4 When I heard these words , I sat down and wept and mourned for days ; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven .
5 I said , "I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven , the great and awesome God , who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments , 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now , day and night , on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants , confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have sinned . 7 " We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments , nor the statutes , nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses . 8 "Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses , saying , ' If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples ; 9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens , I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where e I have chosen to cause My name to dwell .' 10 " They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand . 11 "O Lord , I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [1]revere Your name , and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man ." Now I was the cupbearer to the king .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 1:4-11
Chapter Contents
Nehemiah's distress for the misery of Jerusalem, His prayer.
Nehemiah was the Persian king's cup-bearer. When God has work to do, he will never want instruments to do it with. Nehemiah lived at ease, and in honour, but does not forget that he is an Israelite, and that his brethren are in distress. He was ready to do them all the good offices he could; and that he might know how best to do them a kindness, he makes inquiries about them. We should inquire especially concerning the state of the church and religion. Every Jerusalem on this side the heavenly one will have some defect, which will require the help and services of its friends. Nehemiah's first application was to God, that he might have the fuller confidence in his application to the king. Our best pleas in prayer are taken from the promise of God, the word on which he has caused us to hope. Other means must be used, but the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails most. Communion with God will best prepare us for our dealings with men. When we have intrusted our concerns to God, the mind is set at liberty; it feels satisfaction and composure, and difficulties vanish. We know that if the affair be hurtful, he can easily hinder it; and if it be good for us, he can as easily forward it.