The Priority of Prayer (Nehemiah 1:4-11)

Bible Passage: Nehemiah 1:4-11

There are two different ways to pray. Sometimes we might use prayer as the ultimate safety net, where it is only when our own efforts fail that we bring the matter to the Lord. Other times, prayer is the first resort, and the whole work is fuelled by time with God.

It is easy to see that the second of these is preferable, but in reality it is rarely straight-forward. When we have developed a burden for something like Nehemiah has for Jerusalem, then we can be restless for action. Nevertheless, the example of Nehemiah is crucial. His first move is not storming to Jerusalem or petitioning his boss for time off, but it is prayer. When we are developing a burden for an issue, the first thing we should do is let it drive us to pray..

In Nehemiah’s prayer, we can note a number of features that can help us to pray:

1. Heart. Nehemiah’s prayer was authentic. It is not wrong to pray regardless of feelings, but it is best when our prayers are echoed by our hearts. Nehemiah is praying for his people, and is simultaneously heart-broken about the condition of those people. As such, his prayer is not simply a mechanical ‘quiet-time’ before breakfast, but a man broken with tears, bringing the burden before God. He doesn’t simply pray once, but persists, continuing day and night until it gets done, and he accompanies his prayer with fasting. Simply put, when it comes to his prayer, Nehemiah is all in.

2. Praise. The temptation for Nehemiah would be to begin by explaining to God the situation in Jerusalem and asking God for help. There is a place for that, but Nehemiah begins with praise. He has come into the presence of the God of the Universe, and he begins by celebrating and rejoicing in the one who he is praying to. In doing so, he highlights both God’s great and awesome nature and his steadfast covenant keeping love to his people.

3. Confession. Having acknowledged God’s greatness through praise, Nehemiah goes on to acknowledge his own sin and his people’s sin through confession. He is aware that the reason they are in exile is the judgment of God for their sin, and realises that the first step in the restoration process in repentance. Nehemiah does not blame-shift but confesses the corporate sins of the people, which he knows he has played his part in.

4. Petition. It is now that Nehemiah comes to make his petition. Prayer is powerful and effective, and things change because of prayer. Nehemiah took the situation that looked hopeless and asked God to intervene. Moreover, he ties his request into the word of God. He quotes what God said to Moses and asks God to remember. When we petition God, if we do so on the basis of what God himself has promised to do, then we stand on solid ground.

5. Intercession. The heart of Nehemiah’s prayer is for other people. Though he has included himself in the confession of sin, when it comes to the petition for blessing in verse 10, he switches from ‘we’ to ‘they’. The purpose of Nehemiah’s prayer is blessing others. Moreover, he links this request to God’s glory, drawing attention to what God has already done in redeeming them.

As we carry a burden to build, Nehemiah shows us that the first bricks are laid in prayer.

Potential Applications:

• Spend some time in prayer, either all together or in groups, for some of the things that God has placed on your hearts, and the building the needs to happen in your context. You could use some of the features of Nehemiah’s prayer as a guide.
• Challenge people to build habits of personal prayer into their lives. What does it look like to pray each day in a focus way (i.e. not just as a background activity whilst doing something else).