“NEHEMIAH 9”

Friday, February 17, 2023

After the incredible revival by the Water Gate, the work of rebuilding the spiritual strength in the people’s hearts continued. In Nehemiah 9 we find the longest record of a prayer found in Scripture. While the length is certainly impressive, the hearts and attitudes of the people are just as noticeable. They assembled, “with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dirt upon them” (v. 10). 

The right attitude, the right heart, the right response – the people are taking the right steps towards rebuilding a right relationship with God. This is all indication of leadership. Leadership is about people, and when the people are in the wrong, hiding, ignoring, blame-shifting, only make things worse. They are selfish and arrogant responses to our sins. Remember Paul said that evil isn’t overcome by evil (ROM 12:21). It’s hard to admit our faults. It takes a humble spirit to confess our sins. But that’s the path to healing, to forgiveness, to a right relationship with God (1 JOHN 1:9; PS 32:5).

That’s where Nehemiah leads the people through this incredible prayer. It’s been broken down in different ways – one that stands out to me is the multi-directions found in this prayer: 

• Looking up (v. 5-6) – the starting place of a great prayer is focused on the Lord 
• Looking back (v. 7-31) – walking back through Israel’s history – a testimony to God’s faithfulness
• Looking in (v. 32-37) – the honest expression of where they stood in the present 
• Looking ahead (v. 38) – the plan to pursue what is right before God going forward 

This four directional prayer provides an excellent model to follow when we pray – focus on God, reflect on what He has done, honest admit where things are today, and express confident commitment and faith on what is to come. 

When the people we lead stumble and fall, they’ll look to their leaders to help find the path back to the right. This chapter reminds me of what is said in 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” How can we help the people under our sphere of influence pursue the Lord after having fallen? 

• Humble Ourselves – pride blames. Pride covers. Pride dodges. Pride runs. Pride justifies. Pride excuses. Humility listens. Humility confesses. Humility honestly accepts where we are. 
• Pray – don’t run from God, don’t give up, don’t quit. Bring the burdens, bring the pain, bring the charges, bring the sin to the Lord in prayer. 
• Seek God’s Face – seek God’s favor, seek to be right with God, seek His forgiveness. Confess the sin, honestly, sincerely, fully, acknowledging our wrong, and pleading for His mercy and grace 
• Turn from our Wicked Ways – that’s repentance. It’s not just a change in heart, but it’s a change of heart that results in a change in behavior. Breaking habits. Cutting off sinful influences. Being in control of one’s attitude. Mindful of our words. A clear, noticeable change in the way we live – no longer making those sinful decisions – now purposefully making choices that honor God. 

What does this show us about leadership? It’s easy to lead on days of victory when the sun is shining. It’s hard to lead on days of defeat while in the dark. The greatness of our leadership is often defined by those hard moments. It’s hard as mates, as parents, as shepherds, as bosses or managers – when those under our influence stumble and fall. Our response to another’s failure can make the difference between victory or defeat, in clinging onto hope or sinking in despair, in turning from sin or plunging further into it. Are we harder than God on another’s fault? Do I offer any help or hope, or am I a voice of defeat and doom? Would I bend down to one who’s fallen, helping them rise, leading them in prayer, walking the path of repentance along side them, helping them find their way back to the Lord? 

“Majestic Master, we stand in awe of You. You are perfect in power, in wisdom, in justice, in mercy, in love. You have been with Your people from the very beginning. You delivered them from evil. You rescued them from harm. You led them on the path of righteousness. You extended mercy and grace abundant for their sins. And you have done the same for us. For our every sin, our greatest shames, our countless failures, You have given Your Son, the perfect gift of mercy. In the ways we stand weak before You today we humbly confess. In the reasons we have to rejoice we give thanks. In whatever time remains until Your Son returns, it is our hope, prayer, and trust that You strengthen our weaknesses, refine our spirits, and help us to mature more and more to the perfect image of Jesus. And as we grow, use us in the lives of others to point them all the more to You.” 

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