Table of Contents
A Leader’s Burden Begins
The book of Nehemiah opens approximately 13 years after the events of the book of Ezra. While Ezra’s focus was the spiritual and legal restoration of the people through the teaching of the Law, Nehemiah’s focus is the physical and political restoration of Jerusalem. The central figure, Nehemiah, is a high-ranking Jewish official serving in the Persian royal court. Chapter 1 introduces his character, his deep love for his people, and the burden he receives that sets the entire book in motion. This chapter is defined by two key movements: the devastating report Nehemiah receives about the condition of Jerusalem and his immediate, heartfelt response of grief and prayer. Nehemiah’s prayer, which takes up the second half of the chapter, is a powerful model of intercession, blending adoration, confession, and supplication.
The Bad News from Judah
(Nehemiah 1:1-3) The narrative begins in the citadel of Susa, one of the Persian capitals, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah holds the trusted and influential position of cupbearer to the king. His brother Hanani and some other men arrive from Judah, and Nehemiah eagerly asks them about the Jewish remnant that had returned from exile and about the state of Jerusalem. His question reveals his deep, personal connection to his homeland despite his comfortable life in Persia.
The report he receives is grim. The men tell him, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” This news is shocking. Although the temple had been rebuilt decades earlier (as described in Ezra 1-6), the city itself remained defenseless and vulnerable. The broken walls were a symbol of weakness and a source of constant reproach from their neighbors. For a city to have no walls in the ancient world was to be without security, dignity, or honor. The “great trouble and shame” speaks to the demoralized and insecure state of the people living under the constant threat of attack and ridicule.
Nehemiah’s Reaction of Grief and Mourning
(Nehemiah 1:4) Nehemiah’s response to the bad news is immediate and profound. He does not simply feel sad; he is utterly devastated. The text says, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept.” His grief was not fleeting. For days, he continued in a state of mourning, which involved fasting and praying before the God of heaven. This four-fold reaction—weeping, mourning, fasting, and praying—demonstrates the depth of his sorrow and his spiritual character. Weeping and mourning were outward expressions of his heartbrokenness. Fasting was an act of deep humility and earnestness, showing that his petition to God was more important to him than his own physical needs. Prayer was his immediate recourse. He did not rush to form a plan or use his political influence first. Instead, he took his burden straight to God. His sustained period of mourning shows that this was not a momentary emotional outburst but a deep, settled burden on his soul.
Verse by Verse
(Nehemiah 1:1-3) The setting is established in Susa. Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer, inquires about his people. The report is devastating: the people are in distress and shame, and the city walls and gates are in ruins. This sets the stage for the entire book.
(Nehemiah 1:4) Nehemiah’s reaction is a model of godly grief. He weeps, mourns, fasts, and prays. His response is not one of anger or despair, but of turning to God with a broken heart.
(Nehemiah 1:5-6) The prayer begins with adoration. Nehemiah addresses God as the “great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love.” He asks God to hear his prayer, which he is praying “day and night.” He positions himself as an intercessor for his people.
(Nehemiah 1:7-9) Nehemiah moves to confession. He includes himself in the sin of his people (“we have acted very corruptly”). He acknowledges the justice of their exile by quoting the warnings given through Moses (in Deuteronomy). But he also claims the promise given through Moses: that if they return to God, He will gather them back to the place He has chosen for His name to dwell.
(Nehemiah 1:10-11) The prayer concludes with a petition. Nehemiah reminds God that these are His people, whom He has redeemed by His great power. He then makes his specific, personal request: “give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” The “man” he refers to is King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah is already formulating a plan that will require the king’s favor, and he commits that plan to God before he even speaks a word to the king.
Nehemiah’s Prayer of Confession and Petition
(Nehemiah 1:5-11) Nehemiah’s prayer is a powerful example of how to approach God with a heavy burden. It is structured, theological, and deeply personal. He begins with worship, acknowledging God’s greatness, power, and faithfulness to His covenant promises (“hesed”). This focus on God’s character provides the foundation for his entire appeal. He then confesses the sins of the people of Israel, but he does not distance himself from them. He says, “I confess the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.” This corporate identification is a hallmark of true intercession.
The core of his argument rests on God’s own Word. He reminds God of the promises recorded in the Law of Moses. He acknowledges that their scattering in exile was a just consequence of their disobedience, just as God had warned. But he then pivots to the other side of that same promise: God’s pledge to gather His people from the ends of the earth if they would repent and return to Him. Nehemiah is not just asking for a favor; he is asking God to be true to His own character and to fulfill His own promises. He concludes by reminding God that the people of Israel are His redeemed servants and by asking for personal success as he prepares to approach the king. His prayer demonstrates a perfect blend of humility, reverence for God’s holiness, and bold confidence in God’s promises.
Cross References
Daniel 9:3-19: Nehemiah’s prayer is very similar in structure and content to the great intercessory prayer of Daniel. Both men were officials in foreign courts, both fasted and mourned for the sins of their people, both confessed their sin corporately, and both appealed to God’s mercy based on His covenant promises.
Ezra 9:6-15: Ezra’s prayer upon learning of the sin of intermarriage mirrors the heartbreak seen in Nehemiah. Both leaders are personally devastated by the spiritual state of their people. They identify with the people’s guilt and cast themselves completely on the mercy of God.
Deuteronomy 30:1-5: This is the specific passage that Nehemiah alludes to in his prayer. It contains God’s promise that even if His people are scattered “to the remotest part of the heavens” because of disobedience, if they repent, He will “gather them from there and will bring them into the land.” Nehemiah stands on this specific promise as he prays.
Psalm 137:1-4: This psalm expresses the deep sorrow and grief of the exiles in Babylon who wept when they remembered Zion. Nehemiah shares this deep emotional connection to Jerusalem, but his grief is not passive. Unlike the exiles in the psalm who hang up their harps, Nehemiah’s grief drives him to prayer and then to action.
Philippians 2:4: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Nehemiah is a perfect embodiment of this principle. Despite his own comfort and security, his heart breaks for the trouble of his countrymen, and he is willing to risk his own position to seek their welfare.