I mentioned during last weeks message that an explanation of the rest of Nehemiah 1 would be on my blog. So here it is! I have lifted my notes from a sermon draft and pasted it below.
The context of Nehemiah 1: 8-11 comes on the heals of Nehemiah acknowledging God, praying for the sins of Israel, and praying for the sins of him and his family. The remainder of his prayer focuses on Israel's inability to keep the commandments.
8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’
As Nehemiah continues to reflect, he realizes that there are consequences for actions. In my head right now I struggle with the legalism that this passage could project, with words like: commandments, statutes, and rules. However, I do not think this is legalism. The primary battle for Israel (and for the church today) is about who we worship. Israel was a casualty to idolatry. If you read many of the prophetic books they warn against Israel who was committing idolatry. When we create an idol out of sex, money, prestige, the idol becomes the direction of your worship.
So when Nehemiah prays for Israel and himself to keep the commandments of God it is because these commandments protect us from idols and allow us to focus on Jesus as the central object of our worship. In others words commandments are not a means to tell people what not to do, but to help align our actions which reflect the worship of God.
As Nehemiah continues to reflect, he realizes that there are consequences for actions. In my head right now I struggle with the legalism that this passage could project, with words like: commandments, statutes, and rules. However, I do not think this is legalism. The primary battle for Israel (and for the church today) is about who we worship. Israel was a casualty to idolatry. If you read many of the prophetic books they warn against Israel who was committing idolatry. When we create an idol out of sex, money, prestige, the idol becomes the direction of your worship.
So when Nehemiah prays for Israel and himself to keep the commandments of God it is because these commandments protect us from idols and allow us to focus on Jesus as the central object of our worship. In others words commandments are not a means to tell people what not to do, but to help align our actions which reflect the worship of God.
10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.
The God of Nehemiah and the God of the church is the God of redemption. Only the God of the Bible has the power and the “strong hand” to redeem people. Without God’s “strong hand” of redemption, Israel and the church are left floundering on their own. No other idol, or other god that ultimately functions as an idol, is able to redeem, is able to clear individuals of their sins and bring about healing.
11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah ends his prayer saying that he delights in the fear of the Lord and success is only through the Lord. Nehemiah knows that the success of his calling and the construction project of the walls and gates in Jerusalem are ultimately up to God.
Nehemiah ends his prayer saying that he delights in the fear of the Lord and success is only through the Lord. Nehemiah knows that the success of his calling and the construction project of the walls and gates in Jerusalem are ultimately up to God.
After praying about the news Nehemiah received, he prayed. His narrative continues in chapter two with Nehemiah soclitiing the king to leave for Babylon.
In summation, Nehemiah's prayer (1: 4-11) is a heart-felt plea to God. How does Nehemiah respond? By taking his request to the king and he ultimately ends up in Jerusalem as the foreman for the rebuilding of the walls and gates.
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