SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1

The book of Nehemiah begins as a memoir. Nehemiah reflects on his situation—a cushy government job in Susa, a Persian city in modern-day Iran. The Persian Empire had not been the picture of stability during the fifteen years separating Ezra and Nehemiah. However, in 445 BC, Persia experienced a period of relative stability—another “hand of God” moment. According to Dale Davis, this stability may have made it easier for King Artaxerxes to release his trusted cupbearer to help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Before Nehemiah receives this royal green light to leave, he first grieves the dire straits his people are experiencing back in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1 primarily consists of a personal prayer. Like this past Sunday, when we focused on a prayer offered by Ezra, we will now break down Nehemiah’s opening prayer before he sets out to help rebuild Jerusalem.