Genuine Repentance Is The Starting Point
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven. 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, 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. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant, Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'
. . . "Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your Name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah 1:4-11
"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, 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. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant, Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'
. . . "Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your Name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah 1:4-11
Nehemiah heard a very discouraging report about the state of affairs in Jerusalem, his hometown. He was so shaken by the bad news that he simply sat down and wept for several days. He also fasted and prayed to God about the plight of his fellow Israelites.
But, how does a sinful human being approach a perfect and righteous God in effective petition for his fellow sinful humans? What is the starting point? What is the basis of that petition? Where does one start and where does one end?
Nehemiah's approach gives us some very useful insights:
First, Nehemiah took the time to internalize and ponder the situation in Jerusalem. He went into a time of mourning and fasting. He mourned because he understood the gravity of the situation. He fasted and prayed because he needed divine favor and mercy to help rectify the situation in his homeland.
When faced with overwhelming challenges, it is imperative that we take time to understand the situation we are dealing with. We cannot empathize if we do not understand the situation others are facing. It is unwise to jump into a situation without effective understanding and spiritual preparation through prayer. Nehemiah, waited, mourned, fasted and then petitioned God.
Second: Nehemiah acknowledged his own sinfulness and that of his family before God. He did not take a "holier than thou attitude." He admitted that he, along with all Israel, had acted wickedly toward God by breaking his commands and not keeping the terms of the covenant. Nehemiah owned up to his sins and confessed them before the Lord. Our petitions cannot be effective until we have confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness from God.
Finally, Nehemiah reminded God of His covenant with Israel. He reminded God of His promise to forgive and redeem His people when they genuinely repented from their sins and turned back to Him. God's greatest desire is to see His children living in unbroken fellowship with Him.
God desires that we will not allow sin to cause His face to be hidden from us. He takes no delight when sin drives us into the pit of despair and suffering. That is not the God who sent Jesus to die for us. God wants to restore us into a blissful fellowship with Him no matter how far we have strayed from Him, but it all starts with genuine repentance. He desires to remove our sins from us "as far as the East is from the West." Genuine repentance is the starting point!
But, how does a sinful human being approach a perfect and righteous God in effective petition for his fellow sinful humans? What is the starting point? What is the basis of that petition? Where does one start and where does one end?
Nehemiah's approach gives us some very useful insights:
First, Nehemiah took the time to internalize and ponder the situation in Jerusalem. He went into a time of mourning and fasting. He mourned because he understood the gravity of the situation. He fasted and prayed because he needed divine favor and mercy to help rectify the situation in his homeland.
When faced with overwhelming challenges, it is imperative that we take time to understand the situation we are dealing with. We cannot empathize if we do not understand the situation others are facing. It is unwise to jump into a situation without effective understanding and spiritual preparation through prayer. Nehemiah, waited, mourned, fasted and then petitioned God.
Second: Nehemiah acknowledged his own sinfulness and that of his family before God. He did not take a "holier than thou attitude." He admitted that he, along with all Israel, had acted wickedly toward God by breaking his commands and not keeping the terms of the covenant. Nehemiah owned up to his sins and confessed them before the Lord. Our petitions cannot be effective until we have confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness from God.
Finally, Nehemiah reminded God of His covenant with Israel. He reminded God of His promise to forgive and redeem His people when they genuinely repented from their sins and turned back to Him. God's greatest desire is to see His children living in unbroken fellowship with Him.
God desires that we will not allow sin to cause His face to be hidden from us. He takes no delight when sin drives us into the pit of despair and suffering. That is not the God who sent Jesus to die for us. God wants to restore us into a blissful fellowship with Him no matter how far we have strayed from Him, but it all starts with genuine repentance. He desires to remove our sins from us "as far as the East is from the West." Genuine repentance is the starting point!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the provision you have made for the forgiveness of our sins. I confess that I, along with all your children, have failed you in many ways. Please forgive us and heal our land. Amen.