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.
Thoughts: Nehemiah was confessing not only his own sins, but the sins of his people. In some ways, the corporate sins of our people are our own sins, and affect us more than we understand. In an individualistic culture we have the idea that we only pay for our own sins. But even a cursory observation tells us we inherit many problems before we were even born. While we make many of our own problems and sins for sure, we also struggle against sins that are beyond our control- for example a frivolous war, or a boss's bad decision that shuts our company down. Nehemiah (also see Daniel 9:5) recognized that he wishes to ask God's forgiveness for his people as a whole. We too should recognize the corporate sin that tends to trap us.
This prayer begins by praising God for His greatness and faithfulness, and asking God to listen as He prays for His people. Then he focuses on confession. Confession is always that we have not listened or obeyed. This means it is possible that God communicates His Word to be heard and heeded. It also means that it is possible to obey but we have rebelled against God. If the Word of God is true, then we need to confess our sins and ask God to forgive us. Corporate confession is important.
Prayer: Forgive us, Lord. Help us who have wandered away. Draw us back to you, O Lord. Build us up into a people who will please, honor, and glorify you.
(Nehemiah praying)
Thoughts: Nehemiah was confessing not only his own sins, but the sins of his people. In some ways, the corporate sins of our people are our own sins, and affect us more than we understand. In an individualistic culture we have the idea that we only pay for our own sins. But even a cursory observation tells us we inherit many problems before we were even born. While we make many of our own problems and sins for sure, we also struggle against sins that are beyond our control- for example a frivolous war, or a boss's bad decision that shuts our company down. Nehemiah (also see Daniel 9:5) recognized that he wishes to ask God's forgiveness for his people as a whole. We too should recognize the corporate sin that tends to trap us.
This prayer begins by praising God for His greatness and faithfulness, and asking God to listen as He prays for His people. Then he focuses on confession. Confession is always that we have not listened or obeyed. This means it is possible that God communicates His Word to be heard and heeded. It also means that it is possible to obey but we have rebelled against God. If the Word of God is true, then we need to confess our sins and ask God to forgive us. Corporate confession is important.
Prayer: Forgive us, Lord. Help us who have wandered away. Draw us back to you, O Lord. Build us up into a people who will please, honor, and glorify you.
(Nehemiah praying)
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