Recently studied Book of Nehemiah to prepare for a quiz that was held in family camp. One thing became evident as we went through each chapter: Nehemiah was more than just a leader or a builder. Above all, he was a man of prayer.
Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter 1 is something from that journey that has remained with me long after the camp have ended, even though the competition is over.
I felt driven to share the truths that continue to influence my own relationship with God after reading it. This is more than just a passage; it’s a model for leadership, a guide for intercession.
Humbleness
Nehemiah’s prayer is a deeply heartfelt and content prayer. It might be offered from Shushan citadel, but not of luxury, even though Nehemiah had the privilege of such a life. Instead, he chose to humble himself. The words in the verses—“sat down,” “wept,” “mourned,” “fasted,” and “for many days”—reveal the posture of his heart and the depth of his burden. This is the place from which his prayer begins. More than the content of the prayer itself, it is Nehemiah’s humility that captures God’s attention
Nehemiah immediately seeks God’s face in prayer rather than planning to focus on rebuid, when he learns that Jerusalem is in ruins and that God’s people are in terrible distress.
One of the strongest intercessionary prayers in the Bible is Nehemiah’s. It shows how deeply burdened a man is, not only for the physical reconstruction of a city but also for the spiritual healing of a people.
1. Exalting the Greatness of God, and Declaring God as the Covenant Keeper
“I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments…” (Nehemiah 1:5)
Nehemiah worships before he prays. By recognizing God as the “Lord God of heaven,” he affirms God’s absolute power and sovereignty over everything. His use of the words “great and awesome” to describe God inspires holy fear and awe. By exalting God’s majesty, power, and glory, this phrase conveys the idea that God is both exalted and approachable.
Nehemiah also invokes God’s covenant-keeping character. He serves as a reminder to God (and to himself) that He keeps His word and extends mercy to those who follow His instructions and love Him. Nehemiah’s strong faith in God’s faithfulness and consistency is demonstrated in this section of the prayer.
2. Perseverantly Pleading with Confession of Sin—of All, of the Father’s House, and of Self
“…please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins… which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.” (Nehemiah 1:6)
Nehemiah makes no excuses for himself or his people. The nation, his ancestors, and even himself are all included in the confession. He says “we have sinned,” not just “they have sinned.” This demonstrates both his humility and his strong sense of identification with the wrongdoing of the people.
“Day and night, he confessed, fasted, and repented until God heard him and forgave him. His repeated requests demonstrated his sincerity. Here, confession is not superficial; rather, it is a sincere admission of one’s own and society’s disobedience to God’s laws.
3. Proclamation of the Promises Given to the Forefathers
“Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses…” (Nehemiah 1:8–9)
Nehemiah asks God to “remember” His Word in order to uphold His promises, not because God forgets. He cites the covenant terms that Moses was given, which stated that the people would be scattered if they disobeyed God but would be gathered and restored if they repented.
This is faith in God’s infallible Word, not manipulation. Nehemiah is aware that God’s promises are both restorative and conditional. He bases his hope and revival on these promises, which he incorporates into his prayer.
4. Wisely Proclaiming Redemption—Making the Future State the Current State
“Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.” (Nehemiah 1:10)
Nehemiah declares the people to be already redeemed, despite the fact that they are still in distress and exile. He boldly declares that they have been redeemed “by Your great power” and addresses them as “Your servants and Your people,” rather than as abandoned.
We must ask ourselves if our spiritual lives are as well-protected and flourishing as Nehemiah’s in the king’s palace, despite the fact that our everyday lives may be as comfortable—surrounded by luxury, delicious food, and ease. Or have the walls collapsed, allowing the enemy to enter unhindered? Are there no gates, so everything can go through?
Let’s take an honest look at our lives and hearts. Many things might not be in accordance with God’s will. People who are in great distress and in dire need of hope and salvation are all around us. May we be inspired to rise, rebuild, and repair what is damaged today by the same burden that moved Nehemiah. Because Jerusalem is more than just a location—it represents God’s chosen, His presence, His people. Let us take up the call to rebuild the walls and gates of our own lives, families, and communities, for His glory.
“However, I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen” 1 Kings 11:13
Fun facts
– Artaxerxes the Persian King ruled at the time of Nehemiah.
– Seems Esther potentially be Artaxerxes stepmother – The king at the time of Nehemia’s period. Artaxerxes-1 father is Xerxes I. (Easy to identify thru that: Mordecai worked in Xerxes’ (Ahasuerus) court).
– Mordecai returned back to Jerusalem after the wall re-build. (Nehemiah 7:7).
– Nehemiah re-build 10 Gates of Jerusalem as per Nehemiah chapter 3:
1) Sheep Gate: Nehemiah 3:1
2) Fish Gate: Nehemiah 3:3
3) Old Gate: Nehemiah 3:6
4) Valley Gate: Nehemiah 3:13
5) Dung Gate: Nehemiah 3:14 ( don’t know why this gate name not appeare in NKJ version).
6) Miphkad Gate: Nehemiah 3:31
7) East Gate: Nehemiah 3:29
8) Fountain Gate: Nehemiah 3:15
9) Refuse Gate: Nehemiah 3:13
10) Gate of the Horse: Nehemiah 3:38
– Sanballat and Tobiah were the main villains throughout the Nehemiah’s rebuild mission work.
– Eliashib had married a daughter of Sanballat, making him the son-in-law of Nehemiah’s chief enemy.
– Sanballat governor of Samaria
– Tobiah – Tobiah’s son, Jehohanan, married the daughter of Meshullam. Meshullam is one of the leader and rebuild old gate.
– Zerubbabel was first governer after Babylonian exile. And Nehemiah was the governer after long time, after Zerubbabel.
Time line
– City of Jerusalem burned with fire and destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 BC – end to the kingdom of Judah and exile of Jewish.
– In 535-516 BC Zerubbabel rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. first exiles return at the time of Persian king Cyrus
– Nehemiah rebuild the Jerusalem’s walls in 445 BC.
– Nehemiah was governor of Judea from 445-433 BC.
Very good