Predicament
and Prayer
Midweek Bible Study for September 18 & 25, 2013
Text: Nehemiah
1:1–11
General
Introduction:
1. A depressive Report
Nehemiah
1:1–3
Overview:
Pss. 122; 137:5–6; Ps. 79:1–4.
A.
The Source of
the writing:
Verse 1 cf. Neh. 2:1
B.
The Reports: verse 2-3
Two
Reports:
Cf.
Neh 5:2-5;
2:19; 4:2–3
2.
A DRASTIC
RESPONSE
Nehemiah
1:4 (NRSV) 4 When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and
mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
See Dan. 9 and Ezra 9; Ezra
4:7–23
The responses of Nehemiah:
a)
He
sat down and wept.
b)
He
mourned for days.
c)
He
fasted.
d)
He
prayed.
Other biblical leaders grieved:
cf. 1 Sam. 30:4; 2 Sam. 15:30; Luke 19:41; John 11:35; Heb. 5:7; 2 Cor. 1:8–11;Is.
53:3.
“May my heart be broken by the things that
break the heart of God.”--Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision
3.
A DESPERATE
REQUEST: Nehemiah 1:5–11
Summary:
Nehemiah1:4–11;
2:4; 4:4; 4:9; 5:19; 6:9, 14; 13:14, 22, 29, 31
The Content of his Prayer:
A. Acknowledgement of God. Verse 5; cf. Verses 6, 11.
B. Faithfulness of God. Verse 5
Hebrew term hesed-Mercy.
C. Confession of Sins: Verse 6.
D. Petition to God to remember His Covenant Promise.
Verses 8-9.
Lev. 26:33; Deut. 12:5; 30:1–5; Leviticus
26:27–28
E.
God’s
Relationship with Israel: Verse 10.
F.
The Sovereignty
of God. Verse 11.
Cf. Ezra 4:21; Nehemiah 2:1; Psalm
61:1–2
“cupbearer to the king,”
Who is a
cupbearer?
