A REPORT CONCERNING JERUSALEM

Nehemiah 1:1-11

  1. what there is to know about Nehemiah - 1:1
    1. son of Hachaliah (nothing known about him, his lot in life or his tribe)
    2. was living in the capital city of Persia during the reign of Artaxerxes (2:1)
    3. a cupbearer for the king - 1:11
      1. it was a position of complete trust
      2. it gave him access to the king
      3. a position of wealth and honor
  2. the report concerning Jerusalem - 1:2-3
    1. Nehemiah’s concern for the Jews in Jerusalem - 2
      1. he may have lived in the king’s palace, but he was concerned about the people of God
      2. wealth and honor did not change his attitude about God and His people
      3. he lived a life of prosperity, but he could not forget that he was a Jew
      4. though he was a great man, he was not ashamed to own his relation to them or his concern for them
    2. Nehemiah’s discovery - 3
      1. the people in Jerusalem were in great distress
      2. the Jewish condition was caused by their own failure
  3. Nehemiah’s response - 1:4-11
    1. he wept and mourned - 4
      1. he was not indifferent to their situation, nor was he critical of them
        1. many would have just said "I’ll pray for them"
        2. others would have found fault
      2. he recognized their need, and felt a personal concern for them
        1. he was a busy man, but that did not stop him from sharing the hurt of others
        2. he worked in a palace, but he wasn’t a victim of a dream world
      3. his sorrow lasted certain days
    2. he fasted and prayed - 4
      1. not in public, but before the God of heaven
      2. hen didn’t seek help from others, but from the One that could help
    3. his prayer 5-11
      1. a humble and reverent worship of God - 5
        1. He gives God the glory due unto His name
        2. in awe of God, he remembers that He is infinitely above us and sovereign Lord over us
        3. He is a God to be worshipped with fear by all His people - "terrible"
        4. he expressed his confidence in God - "that keepeth covenant and mercy"
      2. pleading for mercy 5-6 ("I beseech thee…let thine ear…")
        1. his stature in life did not prevent him from seeing his need before God
        2. he had not gotten so big that he did not need God
      3. confession of sin - 6-7
        1. he did not put the blame solely on others
        2. I’m a sinner, my father’s house has sinned & the nation has sinned
        3. he saw sin for what it was - "we have dealt very corruptly against thee" - 7
      4. he claimed the promises of God - 8-10
        1. Nehemiah believed the Word of God
        2. what was the promise
          1. if Israel disobeyed, they would go into a foreign land
          2. if they return unto God, He would bring them back
      5. he made a petition - 11
        1. be attentive
        2. make thy servant successful
        3. grant him mercy before this man (the king)
    4. Nehemiah was willing to be used of God - 11