you’re gonna love these. we’ve got some awesome prayer points from the book of nehemiah to help you pray through each day of the week, and then a reminder to pause and pray about something specific for the day that comes straight from nehemiah’s life! this is going to be one of your favorite devotionals!
Nehemiah prayed, and God heard him. It was a time of dedication, of hard work, and of great self-sacrifice. Just like us, Nehemiah could have been tempted to give up, but he trusted in God.
You may have come back to our site to see all the pages. This is a great place to start, but we also want you to read the book of Nehemiah.At the bottom of this page, we have included prayer points from the book of Nehemiah . These are taken straight from each chapter and may help you during your study.
Prayer Points From The Book Of Nehemiah
| Prayer PointerDescriptionNehemiah prayed ferventlyThe Bible says that Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed fervently, day and night for his nation.Nehemiah focused on the greatness of GodNehemiah identified God as the ‘God of Heaven,’ ‘great,’ ‘awesome,’ and ‘who keeps His covenant of love.’Nehemiah prayed for favor and successNehemiah prayed for favor from the King and success in his endeavors.Nehemiah prayed against the oppositionNehemiah prayed against the threats and opposition he faced, trusting in God’s protection.Nehemiah prayed for strengthNehemiah prayed for strength amidst deception and intimidation from his enemies. |
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Reflection:
7 Elements of Nehemiah’s Prayer
1. Addressing God
Nehemiah’s prayer begins by acknowledging God’s greatness and power. He addresses God with reverence and awe, recognizing Him as the ultimate authority.
2. Confession of Sins
Nehemiah confesses the sins of his people, acknowledging their disobedience and shortcomings. He humbly asks for forgiveness and mercy from God.
3. Remembrance of God’s Promises
Nehemiah recalls the promises that God has made to His people in the past. He reminds God of His faithfulness and asks Him to fulfill His word.
4. Petition for Success
Nehemiah prays for success in his mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He asks God for strength, wisdom, and guidance as he carries out his task.
5. Commitment to God’s Will
Nehemiah commits himself to God’s will, surrendering his plans and desires to Him. He trusts in God’s sovereignty and promises to follow His guidance.
6. Intercession for the People
Nehemiah intercedes on behalf of his people, asking God to bless them and protect them. He pleads for God’s favor and mercy on the nation of Israel.
7. Request for God’s Favor
Nehemiah concludes his prayer by asking for God’s favor and blessing. He trusts in God’s goodness and asks for His help in accomplishing his goals.
Overall, Nehemiah’s prayer demonstrates humility, faith, and dependence on God. By following these elements, we can learn how to pray effectively and seek God’s guidance in our own lives.
List of Nehemiah prayers
The fourteen prayers that are documented in the brief book of Nehemiah demonstrate how much of a man Nehemiah was a prayer. Nehemiah prayed before starting the endeavor. He prayed as he walked up to the king. He prayed while he was having problems.
We can improve our prayer lives by studying the prayers found in the book of Nehemiah. These are powerful prayers that we can personalize and use as a model as we go about our assigned task of making relationship-based disciples of Jesus.
Nehemiah 1:4–11
4 I sat down and started crying when I heard these things. I cried, fasted, and prayed to the heavenly God for a few days. 5. Next, I uttered:
“Lord, heavenly God, mighty and magnificent God, who honors his love covenant with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 keep your eyes open and your ears tuned to the prayer your servant offers up before you, day and night, on behalf of your servants, the people of Israel. I acknowledge the transgressions that my family and I, the Israelites, have committed against you.7. We have treated you in a really evil way. The laws, decrees, and instructions you gave your servant Moses are not followed by us.
8 “Recall the directive you gave your servant Moses: “If you disobey, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you turn back to me and follow my instructions, then I will gather your exiled people from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.”
10 “They are your people and your servants, whom your mighty hand and tremendous strength have redeemed. 11 Lord, please listen to this servant’s prayer as well as the prayers of your servants who take great pleasure in praising you. Today, make your subordinate successful by showing him favor in this man’s company.
I served as the king’s cupbearer.
THOUGHT POINTS FOR PRAYER
- Lord, keep in mind what you have said: “I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways.” We humbly approach You in prayer, Lord. Please pardon all of our transgressions against You, our families, and the nations of the globe. Lord, we apologize (Nehemiah 1:5-11).
- Lord, please show me favor by making my helpers aware of my situation so they will feel compelled to assist me (Nehemiah 2:1–4).
- Lord, please frustrate Tobiah and every Sanbalat who are worried about the actions I’m doing to start a new life this year (Nehemiah 2:10).
- Lord, give me the discernment to keep my ideas a secret (Nehemiah 2:11-16).
- Lord, please provide me the strength to rise to the situation so that I can carry out my intentions (Nehemiah 2:18).
- Lord, give me the fortitude to face the doubters and discouragers who think my goal is unachievable (Nehemiah 2:19–20).
- Lord, please provide evidence to support my plans so that my mockers will be left in a condition of constant rage and fury (Nehemiah 4:1).
- Nehemiah 4:4 says, “Lord, turn the scorn of the mockers upon their own heads.”
- Lord, grant me a work ethic, a spirit of dedication, and constancy (Nehemiah 4:6).
- Lord, please grant me the courage to pray against any plot of assassination or confusion that is intended to impede my advancement (Nehemiah 4:7-9).
Prayer Points From The Book Of Nehemiah
Prayer Points From The Book Of Nehemiah
Nehemiah 2:1-5
Nehemiah 2:6-8
Nehemiah 2:9-10
Nehemiah 2:11-12
Nehemiah 2:13-18
Nehemiah 3:1-4
Prayer Points From The Book Of Nehemiah
The Lord will be with you, and he will keep the covenant and mercy that he swore to your forefathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and oil, the calving of your herds and the young of your flocks, in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock. The Lord will take away from you all sickness; none of the evil diseases of Egypt that you knew shall afflict you. No plague shall come near your dwelling; when it does come near you, then you shall say: It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt. For he said: The Lord shall reign for ever!
Prayer Points From The Book Of Nehemiah
- Pray for the Lord to give you the courage to take risks for the sake of His kingdom.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you vision in your role as a leader so that you can lead others into meaningful ministry.
- Pray for the Lord to give you strength and courage as you face opposition from enemies who want to stop your efforts for God’s kingdom.
- Pray for wisdom, discernment and insight as you seek God’s will in planning events and programs that will bring Him glory.
- Pray for boldness as you share the gospel with people who need Jesus Christ in their lives.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
Nehemiah prayed for protection from his enemies. The Bible teaches us that God will fight our battles for us if we ask Him to. We must be faithful to do His will and trust Him to give us victory over our enemies.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV)
Nehemiah was afraid when he saw how powerful the enemy was. He feared that he would lose his life in battle because there were so many more soldiers than him. Nehemiah did not lose hope because he trusted God to protect him and give him victory over his enemies. We must have faith that God will protect us from our enemies no matter how powerful they may seem!
“But if I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)
Nehemiah wrote this book as a guide for other
Nehemiah 1:4
4 I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said, “O Lord, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
5 Listen to my prayer and my petition, which I pray before you day and night concerning the sons of Israel your servants. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.
6 We have acted very corruptly against you, turning away from your commandments, which you commanded your servant Moses. 7 You delivered us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, but in our rebellion (we) have turned away from the way you commanded us to walk. 8 Your Spirit remained among us in those days as a witness that we were still loyal to you; it departed from us because of our unfaithfulness, but now it has been restored to us again 9 because of your great mercies! 10 The nations around us know nothing about you; they do not understand that all these things are happening because of your great power. How wonderful are all your works! 11 Your ways are righteous,
7 elements of nehemiahs prayer
1. Lord Jesus let me and my family found favor before great people in the world all the days of our lives,2:1-8.
2. Let the love for your house consume me King of Kings,2:1-6.
3. Holy Spirit disgrace all who are not happy with my progress and the progress of God’s work through me in Jesus name,2:10.
4. Teach me to keep your secret from the enemies Lord Jesus,2:12.
5. Let your hand be good upon me,and raise helpers of my destiny for me king of glory,2:17-18.
6. Holy Spirit touch the hearts of people you want to use together with me to fulfill your purpose for this generation,3:1-32.
14 prayers of nehemiah
The book of Nehemiah is one that is filled with vision, courage, efficient leadership, faith, suspense, and an unflinching desire to honor God. When Nehemiah received information that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and in ruins and that the gates had been burned with fire, he clearly understood the dangers and disgrace involved (Nehemiah 1:3). It meant that his beloved city was probably now a laughingstock to the surrounding nations, with its security under grave threat from enemies.
Thankfully, without allowing discouragement to overcome him, Nehemiah resolved to do something about the situation. The great task that he undertook subsequently to rebuild the walls of the city, was covered with much prayer.
In this article, I would like to focus on five important prayer pointers seen in Nehemiah’s life that paved the way for the success of his dangerous mission. These prayer pointers can help us in our own Christian lives as we battle the challenges and the insecurities that surround us today. So, what were some of the prayer strategies that Nehemiah adopted?
1. Nehemiah prayed fervently (Nehemiah 1:4).
The Bible says that when Nehemiah received the distressing news about the walls of Jerusalem, he wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed (Nehemiah 1:4). He also prayed earnestly, day and night for his beloved nation (Nehemiah 1:6). In response to Nehemiah’s fervent prayers, God gave him military, political, administrative, and leadership strategies that helped him accomplish an extremely difficult task successfully!
Similarly, there is always a place for fasting and fervent prayer when we face stubborn challenges that seem to refuse to leave us, as well as the problems that seem to mock us. In James 5:16, the author says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (NKJV). We can therefore be victorious through the principle of fervent prayer, accompanied by weeping and fasting. Jesus Christ Himself said so in Mark 9:29.
I remember hearing a story about a prayerful missionary who was deeply disturbed by the enmity between two tribes in the area that he was ministering in. It is said that this man of prayer pitched his tent at the intersection where the two roads that led to the different tribes met. He then went inside the tent and began to pray fervently. Within a short period of time, the tribes made peace with each other, and any possible violence was averted.
Let’s seek God in fervent prayer.
2. Nehemiah focused on the greatness of the One he was praying to (Nehemiah 1:5).
Nehemiah clearly understood the greatness of the God he was praying to. He, therefore, identified God as the ‘God of Heaven,’ who is ‘great’ and ‘awesome,’ and as the One ‘who keeps His covenant of love.’ Understanding who his God was, clearly gave him the courage and faith he needed for the dangerous journey ahead.
We too need to keep our faith constantly fixed on “Jesus Christ (who) is the same yesterday and today and forever,” more than on our problems (Hebrews 13:8). The Psalmist said, “I lift up my eyes to the hills… My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).
Let’s ask God to open our eyes to His greatness so that we may ‘walk by faith, and not by sight.’
I well remember the day, 8 years ago, when I was given the depressing news that the retina in my left eye had broken (collapsed). I was further informed that there were issues with the retina of my right eye as well and that I would need urgent surgery on one of the eyes. Being the father of two small sons at that time, the thought of possibly losing my eyesight if the surgery failed, brought a crippling fear into me. The surgery itself would be a complicated one (there were 2 in fact).
As I was battling this fear while preparing for the surgery, the Lord gave me strong assurance of His greatness through the lyrics of the hymn, ‘In Christ Alone.’ I, therefore, trusted Him through this totally unexpected challenge and He was faithful. The surgery was successful and I am still doing well by His grace. He is truly a great God!
3. Nehemiah prayed for favor and success (Nehemiah 1:11).
We should never forget that God’s favor is upon His children at all times; even in the seemingly darkest moments. How true this was when it came to the opposition that Nehemiah would face. The scriptures speak of God’s favor repeatedly and we should believe and pray accordingly.
Nehemiah prayed for favor and received amazing favor from none other than the King himself (Nehemiah 2:6). In fact, his focus was not on getting favor for himself, but for the work of God (Nehemiah 2:5). As a result, Nehemiah received bodyguards, a security contingent, letters of recommendation, and the required timber, not only for the repairs of the city but also for his own future residence in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:7-9). Talk about having favor!
Nehemiah had also prayed for success (Nehemiah 1:11). Therefore, when the king asked him what help he wanted (Nehemiah 2:4), it is said that Nehemiah prayed (a quick prayer) to God before he answered. He then asked for favor, so that his endeavor would be successful. In response, the Lord gave him amazing success beyond what he could have imagined!
Do you need God’s favor today? Have you been crying out to the Lord about finding success in what you do? Are you willing to continue praying till God comes through? John Wesley said, ‘I have so much to do that I must spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it (successfully?).’
4. Nehemiah prayed against the opposition (Nehemiah 4:4).
The opposition and resistance to God’s work came from a man called Sanballat and his associates (Nehemiah 4:1-3). It included threats with incensed anger, mockery, and humiliating insults (Nehemiah 2:19, Nehemiah 4:7-8). Nehemiah’s immediate response however was prayer. He prayed, “Hear us, our God…” (Nehemiah 4:4), and also confirmed that prayer was raised to God against the threats (Nehemiah 4:9).
As Nehemiah prayed, God gave Him strategies to negate the ungodly plans of his opponents and He also frustrated their plans (Nehemiah 4:15)! The people, therefore, were encouraged and the work kept progressing.
We too can be sure that whenever we attempt something great or small for God, or strive to draw closer to Him, the enemy will come against us. But, he can never defeat us for the Bible says that ‘we are more than conquerors through Jesus!’ (Romans 8:37). I once heard a man of God say that ‘Prayer doesn’t just stop the enemy’s plans; it pushes back those plans!’
It is said that Missionary John Paton’s mission house was once surrounded and on the verge of being attacked by hostile natives. As darkness fell and the threat became more serious, Paton and all in the compound used the only weapon they had; prayer. As they prayed, the attack did not materialize and the threat ended.
Much later, as one of the tribal chiefs turned to Jesus, it was discovered that on the eventful night, the attackers had seen a vast army (God’s army) surrounding the mission house with a protective cordon. They realized therefore that it would be futile to attack as the compound was securely and strongly protected.
Through prayer, we too can overcome all opposition.
5. Nehemiah prayed for strength (Nehemiah 6:9).
In chapter 6, Nehemiah’s enemies were scheming to trap and harm him through deception. They attempted to trap him in this manner on five different occasions (Nehemiah 6:4-5). They were also trying to frighten and weaken his team through political intimidation (Nehemiah 6:5-9). Isn’t that how the evil one comes against God’s children as He makes repeated attacks, bringing fear and intimidation?
Nehemiah’s response however was two-fold. He refused to be distracted from the great work he was doing (Nehemiah 6:3), and he PRAYED. He prayed “Now strengthen my hands” (Nehemiah 6:9).
In praying for strength, Nehemiah also discovered a great truth that so often encourages us in our own struggles. He proclaimed, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
The world is facing tremendous challenges today, including an unceasing pandemic, and people need added strength to cope physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Maybe that’s you. Let’s learn from Nehemiah and ask God to strengthen our hands and renew our joy. A quote I came across says, “Bruised knees and worn-out trousers open the windows of heaven.”
In closing, let’s look at how Nehemiah’s prayers impacted the difficult mission he was involved in. We could say that ‘Mission Impossible’ became ‘Mission Successful’. Let me clarify through a quote from the NIV Study Bible which says:
“The walls that lay in ruins for nearly a century and a half, were rebuilt in less than two months, once the people were galvanized into action by Nehemiah’s leadership” (Page 703 – unquote). To be exact, it was done in just 52 days!
As we reflect on this inspiring story and on these prayer pointers from Nehemiah, may we be strengthened in our own prayer lives today.
What Is The Theme Of The Book Of Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah is a key Old Testament book that tells the story of the return of Jews who had been exiled from Jerusalem and their rebuilding of the city walls. The book falls into two parts:
Nehemiah’s initial efforts to rebuild Jerusalem. This section (1–7) describes the circumstances surrounding Nehemiah’s mission, how he was chosen by the king, his preparations for rebuilding Jerusalem, and his journey there.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls, gates, and houses. This section (8–13) describes how the Jews rebuilt the city’s walls and gates under Nehemiah’s leadership over thirteen years; they also rebuilt their homes on their own properties outside the walled city.
The theme of the book of Nehemiah is God’s plan for the restoration of Israel and His chosen people.
Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia (465–424 BC). He received a divine call from God to rebuild Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BC. The first step was to stop building a city for himself and start rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. 2:13-16). This was not just a physical restoration. Nehemiah also restored Israel spiritually through prayer, fasting and worship (Neh. 1:4-11; 4:1-6).
The theme of Nehemiah is the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. The book begins with an account of how Nehemiah’s enemies were able to convince King Artaxerxes to send him to Judah as governor. He was not happy about this assignment and prayed for a reversal of the decision, but God did not answer his prayer. Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah began his work by helping the poor and defenseless people who had been left behind when others left for Babylonian captivity. He also helped rebuild their homes.
Nehemiah’s next major undertaking was the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. He began by recruiting workers from among those who had returned from exile and found materials for building supplies in surrounding areas that had been left behind during the people’s years away from Jerusalem. After two months had passed, he held a dedication ceremony where he praised God for His blessings and protection during this time of rebuilding (Neh 2:18-20).
The book of Nehemiah is the story of a man who was sent by God to serve as governor of Jerusalem. During his service, Nehemiah helped to strengthen the people of Israel and rebuild their city walls.
Nehemiah was born into a noble family during the time when Judah was under Persian rule (Neh 1:1). He served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, who ruled from 465-424 B.C. (Neh 2:10). When he learned that the people of Judah were in dire need of help, he requested permission from the king to return home for a visit (Neh 2:5-9). After receiving his leave, Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem and took charge of affairs there (Neh 5:14-16). He then led the people in rebuilding their city walls (Neh 3:19-20), which had been destroyed by an Assyrian army over 100 years before (2 Kings 25:1-9).
Nehemiah is a book that tells the story of one man’s spiritual journey. It also shows us how we can learn from him as we face our own challenges and walk in faith.
Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, the ruler of Persia. He lived in Jerusalem during a time when most Jews had been exiled from their homeland because of disobedience. Nehemiah’s heart was stirred by what he saw happening to his people and he decided to do something about it. He asked the king for leave and then traveled back to Jerusalem where he had been born.
On his journey, he stopped at many places along the way where people were struggling with problems similar to those facing the Jewish people in exile. He encouraged them in their tasks and helped them rebuild their homes and cities so they could once again be productive members of society.
When he arrived in Jerusalem, Nehemiah found that there were no walls surrounding the city because they had been torn down by enemies some years earlier while they were away from home serving God elsewhere (see 2 Kings 24). It took great courage for him to go before King Artaxerxes and ask permission to rebuild these walls because it would mean investing their own money into this project rather than receiving
Nehemiah was a man of constant prayer as can be seen in the fourteen recorded prayers in the short book of Nehemiah. Before he set out on the project, Nehemiah prayed. When he approached the king, he prayed. When he was in trouble, he prayed.
Studying the prayers in the book of Nehemiah can help us pray better. These prayers are amazing prayers, and can become a model for us to personalize and cry out to God as we go about the work set before us: to make disciples of Jesus in relationships.
Nehemiah 1:4-11
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 2:4
4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”
Then I prayed to the God of heaven
Nehemiah 4:4-5
4 Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.
Nehemiah 5:19
19 Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.
Nehemiah 6:9
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Nehemiah 6:14
14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.
Nehemiah 9:5-38
5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.[a]”
“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
7 “You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.
9 “You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea.[b] 10 You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. 12 By dayyou led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
13 “You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. 15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.
16 “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.
19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.
22 “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon[c] king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. 23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. 24 Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subduedbefore them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.
26 “But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. 27 So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.
28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight.Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.
29 “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. 30 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
32 “Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. 35 Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways.
36 “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.
38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.
What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of Nehemiah
Nehemiah is a book of the Bible that tells the story of how Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem.
The book begins with a description of how Nehemiah was called by God to be governor of Judah (Nehemiah 1:1). After rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, he instituted many reforms for the good of the people. These include making sure everyone paid their taxes and observing the Sabbath day (Nehemiah 13:15-22).
The book of Nehemiah is a historical narrative that tells of the return of the Jews from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem, the rebuilding of its walls, and their establishment as a nation. The text is thought to have been written by Ezra, a Jewish leader who returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile.
Nehemiah was an official in King Artaxerxes’ court and served as cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11). When he heard about the terrible conditions in Jerusalem, he asked for permission to go back and rebuild the city wall (Nehemiah 2:1-8). The king granted his request and gave him letters for local officials that would protect him from harm (Nehemiah 2:9-19). Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah found that many people were still discouraged by the condition of their city. He asked them if they believed God would deliver them from their enemies and lead them back home again if they obeyed His commands (Nehemiah 6:1-5). They responded affirmatively and began rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls under Nehemiah’s direction.
The Book of Nehemiah is the story of a man who was called by God to rebuild Jerusalem.
Nehemiah was a cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia, but he was also a devout Jew who mourned the loss of Jerusalem and the temple which had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.
Nehemiah’s service as cupbearer gave him access to the king, so when he heard that God had told him to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild it, he asked for leave from his position and permission to go home.
After spending some time there rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem, Nehemiah learned that many of his fellow Jews were living in poverty because they had come back without anything. In response, he instituted an economic recovery plan that included collecting taxes from everyone who lived in Jerusalem and making sure that these funds were used only for those things that benefited people who lived there (Neh. 5:1-13).
The book of Nehemiah serves as a sequel to the book of Ezra. The two books cover approximately the same time period, but focus on different aspects of Jewish history. Where Ezra emphasized events at the temple in Jerusalem, Nehemiah focused on rebuilding the city walls and gates of Jerusalem.
Nehemiah served as governor under Artaxerxes I (465–424 bce) and returned to Judah (Nehemiah 1:1). He was working as cupbearer for King Artaxerxes when he heard about the terrible conditions in Judah (Nehemiah 2:1–5). After hearing about this, Nehemiah prayed earnestly for God’s guidance and favor for his mission (Nehemiah 2:6–8).
Nehemiah then asked permission from Artaxerxes to return to Judah so he could rebuild Jerusalem’s walls and gates (Nehemiah 2:9–16). When Nehemiah arrived back in Jerusalem, he found that many Jews had intermarried with other peoples and worshiped false gods. After confronting these situations, Nehemiah faced opposition from Sanballat II (Nehemiah 4:1–2; 6:1), Tobiah the Ammonite (Nehem
The book of Nehemiah is the second book of the historical books that follow the Pentateuch. It tells the story of how Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem and restored the worship of God there after the Babylonian Exile. The book was written by Ezra, who was also a priest and scribe, and by his time, probably around 430 BC, he had become very old. In fact, he died while still in Babylon, before he could see the completion of his work.
The name “Nehemiah” means “Yahweh comforts” or “Yahweh protects.” He was one of the priests who returned from exile with Zerubbabel (1:1–2), Ezra 4:8–10). His family name may have been Hushiel (Ezra 2:2), but in any case he was a descendant of Joshua through Eliashib (Neh 1:1). His grandfather had been among those who separated themselves from their foreign wives after they came back from exile (Ezra 10:7).
Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC) for twelve years (Neh 1:11). During this time