1:5Nehemiah 1:5

When messengers told him that the returned exiles in Jerusalem were in affliction and reproach with the walls still largely in ruins and the restoration hindered, Nehemiah turned to the Lord of heaven as the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps covenant and shows mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments, confessing his own sins and the sins of his people and asking pardon and renewed favor.Ms 58, 1903, par. 6+4
He offered this prayer in retirement with weeping and penitential confession during the four months he had to wait for opportunity before the king, in seasons seen by God alone while he kept a cheerful countenance at court where sorrow could not be shown, humbling himself and giving God glory as Daniel also did in Babylon.PK 630.1+3
By taking hold of God's promise by faith he appealed for God to uphold the cause of His penitent people, restore their courage and strength, and rebuild their ruined places, so that repentant believing Israel had reason to hope for mercy despite the ruin their sins had brought.Ms 58, 1903, par. 6+2
His earnest prayer for help in great need was heard so that God moved upon heathen kings to aid His people and carry out His purpose even while enemies worked against them, yet such prayer does not complete duty but must be joined with diligent effort and offered with reverence for His holy and fearful name.PK 633.3+4
This humbling of self never erases the line between God's commandment-keeping people and those who disregard His law, and those who advocate religious liberty must learn from this prayer to depend on the grace and gentleness of Christ and leave perplexing matters to God to adjust and prepare the way.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+3

The prayer opens after messengers from Judea brought word that days of trial had come to Jerusalem, where the returned exiles were suffering affliction and reproach.PK 628.2 The temple and portions of the city had been rebuilt, yet the work of restoration was hindered, the temple services were disturbed, and the people lived in constant alarm because the city walls were still largely in ruins.PK 628.2

It belongs to prayers offered in retirement during the four months of compelled waiting for a favorable opportunity to present his request to the king.Ms 58, 1903, par. 18–19 They were offered amid grief, with weeping and penitential confession, in private seasons witnessed by God and angels but concealed from human sight.PK 630.1+1 All the while he endeavored to carry a cheerful and happy countenance, because the regulations of Eastern courts forbade any manifestation of sorrow within them and required all to appear gay and happy in those halls of luxury and splendor, so that distress without would not cast its shadow in the presence of royalty.Ms 58, 1903, par. 18–19

The address presents God as the Lord of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring and fearsome ruler whose judgments have shown His power.Ms 58, 1903, par. 6+1 He is the One who keeps covenant and shows mercy to those who love Him and observe His commandments.Ms 58, 1903, par. 6+2 To call Him great and terrible expresses His holiness and the awe due to Him.ExVEGW 58.1

The first chapter sets forth Nehemiah as a faithful servant through whom God worked, in contrast with people whose sins had separated them from God.Ms 121, 1898, par. 7–8 In affliction the prayer turns to God with confession of his own sins and the sins of his people, asking for pardon and renewed divine favor.PK 629.1+1 It is a humbling of himself before God and a giving to Him of the glory due to His name, as Daniel also did in Babylon.Ms 58, 1903, par. 12

The opening address lays hold by faith on the promise that the Lord of heaven keeps covenant and shows mercy to those who love Him and keep His commandments.Ms 58, 1903, par. 6+1 On that ground the prayer appeals to God to uphold the cause of His penitent people, to restore their courage and strength, and to help them rebuild the ruined places of Judah.Ms 58, 1903, par. 6+1 Even though the ruin was brought by the sins of the people, repentant and believing Israel is thereby given reason to hope for mercy.ST May 13, 1913

The prayer was offered to God for help in great need, and God heard it.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2 Earnest prayers ascending to God for greatly needed help are answered when He moves upon heathen kings to come to the help of His people and works through kings to carry out His purpose.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2 That help comes even while enemies work zealously against His cause.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2

Praying before the Lord in this way does not complete one's duty, but is to be joined with diligent, careful effort.PK 633.3 The description of God as great and terrible expresses His holiness and the awe due to Him.ExVEGW 58.1 His name must therefore be treated with reverence, for careless, irreverent words in prayer grieve the Holy Spirit and cause petitions to be shut out of heaven.ExVEGW 58.1

The prayer humbles the suppliant before God and gives Him the glory due to His name, as was also done in Babylon.Ms 58, 1903, par. 12 Yet such humbling never obliterates the line of demarcation between God's commandment-keeping people and those who have no respect for His law.Ms 58, 1903, par. 12

Those who advocate the cause of religious liberty must read this prayer, and the book of Nehemiah, with humble hearts touched by the Holy Spirit.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2 So read, false ideas about religious liberty and unwise, extreme conscientiousness will be modified.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2 Correct principles will be seen, even dependence on the grace and gentleness of Christ.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2 Perplexing matters will be left in the hands of God for Him to adjust and to prepare the way by His own right hand so His work can progress, and the present order of things will be changed.Lt 11, 1895, par. 28–30+2