Bible Chapter Summary
Nehemiah 1 Summary
Nehemiah's Prayer for Jerusalem
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, learns of Jerusalem's ruined walls and burned gates from his brother Hanani. Deeply grieved, he fasts, mourns, and offers an extended prayer to the God of heaven, confessing the sins of Israel and appealing to God's covenant mercy to hear his petition. He asks God to prosper his service before the king.
Key themes
Key verses
Nehemiah 1:4
“And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”
Nehemiah 1:5
“And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:”
Nehemiah 1:6
“Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.”
Nehemiah 1:11
“O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.”
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