A prayer: its characteristics.
We have many recorded prayers in the sacred Scriptures. They have various characteristics, as we should expect they would have; for our individuality—that in which God has made us to be different from every one else—should appear in prayer as much as in any other act. More rather than less, for if there be one thing more especially in which we should "be ourselves," it is when we approach him who requires "truth in the inward parts." Nevertheless, we shall find in the prayer of Nehemiah those characteristics which we should expect to find in any address to God from a holy man, and which should mark our devotion.
I. REVERENCE. "I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God" (verse 5). "Let thine ear be attentive, and thine eyes open" (verse 6). Nehemiah speaks as one who feels that it is an infinite condescension for the Majesty on high to "humble himself to behold the things which are done upon the earth." In our "access with boldness" there is danger lest we run into irreverence. Who can help marking a painful familiarity in the addresses of some men to the Saviour of mankind? If we feel that our Maker is our friend, we must never forget that our friend is our Maker.
II. ADORATION. "Thou keepest covenant and mercy," etc. (verse 5). Critics who raise an easy sneer about our "telling God the truth concerning himself" must not be allowed to deprive us of the privilege and drive us from the duty of adoration. It is a fitting thing, well sanctioned in Scripture, fruitful of humility and sacred joy, to ascribe in prayer "the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty" to our God (1 Chronicles 29:11; Revelation 4:11, etc.).
III. CONFESSION. "The sins which we have sinned against thee," etc. (verses 6, 7). Here is confession of national sin. Our consciousness tells us of our own guilt, and should lead us to confess
(a) our transgressions ("we have dealt corruptly") and
(b) our shortcomings ("we have not kept," etc.).
Our confession of sin should be simple and natural, not conventional or ostentatious. The truer, the more acceptable. Beside the acknowledgment of our own personal faultiness, our sympathy with our fellows (of the same family, Church, nation) will lead us to confess our sins as members of a community.
IV. SUPPLICATION, PLEADING (verses 8, 9, 10). Nehemiah pleads with God his ancient promises, and he reverently affirms that they for whom he is making intercession are such as these promises included. We cannot do better than plead (a) God's word of promise, and (b) his past deliverances (verse 10): "Thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt thou not deliver my feet from falling?" (Psalms 56:13).
V. EARNESTNESS. In verse 11 Nehemiah urges his petition: "O Lord, I beseech thee," etc. Earnestness is not content with one clear utterance. It returns and repeats. The language of entreaty is naturally redundant. It does not spare words; it pleads and pleads again.
VI. DEFINITENESS. "Prosper thy servant.. and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer" (verse 11). Nehemiah prays not only generally for God's merciful regard to be given to his people, but he asks especially that the mind of the king, Artaxerxes, may be favourably disposed towards himself. We should consider what we urgently require when we draw nigh to God in prayer, and ask him for those special and definite favours which are most calculated to meet the need of our circumstances and life. Only, as here, we must be unselfish and high-minded in the desires we cherish.—C.
Nehemiah Intro
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 1 - nehemiah-1 - worlddic.com