Nehemiah 1:6
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.
Nehemiah prayed this after word came that Jerusalem lay desolate and in reproach, with its walls still largely in ruins and its restoration hindered, and he interceded day and night confessing the sins of Israel and including himself and his father's house in guilt for dealing corruptly and breaking God's commandments. Their affliction was connected to transgression, for in turning from God they separated themselves from Him and He permitted them to come under the control of heathen nations. He sought God with weeping and mourning and fasting, praying penitentially for four months while bearing a cheerful countenance in the Persian court where sorrow could not be shown, yet pouring out private prayers and confessions with tears in retirement. Taking hold by faith of the divine promise, he pleaded for God to hear, maintain the cause of His penitent people, and restore their courage and strength to build up the waste places of Judah. God heard and answered by moving upon heathen kings to supply the help so much needed, showing that He keeps a place for His people in connection with the world, while prayer for His work is to be joined with earnest practical effort.
Historical Setting and Confession
Messengers from Judea brought word that days of trial had come to Jerusalem, the chosen city, and that the returned exiles were suffering affliction and reproach. The temple and portions of the city had been rebuilt, but the work of restoration was hindered, the temple services were disturbed, and the people were kept in constant alarm because the walls of the city were still largely in ruins. While serving with the cup in the Persian court, in distress over word that Jerusalem lay desolate and the place of his fathers' sepulchers lay waste, he interceded before God day and night with confession for the children of Israel.
The sins of the people in turning from God separated them from God, and He would not serve with their sins but permitted them to be brought under the control of heathen nations, so that Israel's affliction was connected to its transgression. The confession is a humble, personal plea for pardon and renewed divine favor that acknowledges the people dealt corruptly and failed to keep God's commandments, statutes, and judgments. It includes himself and his family and his father's house in the guilt of sins sinned against God.
Taking hold by faith of the divine promise and laying the petition at the footstool of heavenly mercy, he pleads for God to hear his persistent day-and-night prayer. He asks God to maintain the cause of His penitent people, restore their courage and strength, and help them build up the waste places of Judah.
Manner of Intercession
Sorrow over Jerusalem drove him to prayer before the God of heaven after weeping and mourning certain days with fasting so that he could neither eat nor drink, in faithful confession of his own sins and the sins of his people Israel and pleading for God to maintain the cause of Israel, restore their courage and strength, and help them build up the waste places of Judah. That day-and-night prayer with penitential confession continued for four months while he waited for a favorable opportunity to present his request to the king.
With his heart heavy and oppressed with grief he constantly forced himself to bear a cheerful and happy countenance in public, because the regulations of Eastern courts forbade any manifestation of sorrow 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 royal presence and in the presence of royalty. In seasons of retirement concealed from human sight he poured out many private prayers and confessions with tears and tears of anguish that were heard and witnessed by God and angels. In that prayer he humbled himself before God and gave God the glory due to His name.
Prayer for God's work is joined with earnest, practical effort, and prayer alone does not complete one's duty. He was one whom God could use and whom God honored, for he was registered in the books of heaven as a man who was as true as steel to principle, who would not be swayed by the sophistries of backsliders who had lost spiritual eyesight, and who could put down false principles and restore heaven-born principles which had been supplanted, rather than God working through those who refused to serve Him with singleness of purpose and had corrupted their ways before Him.
Divine Answer and Application
The prayer for help in great need, offered day and night, was heard, and the many prayers ascending amid opposition and need were answered. The answer came as God moved upon heathen kings to come to his help and worked through kings to carry out His purpose and supply the help so much needed. This was done even while enemies worked zealously against him.
That working proves that God keeps a place for His people in connection with the world. He works by His own right hand to prepare the way for His work to progress along its various lines.
The verse gives correct principles for leading workers perplexed over the religious liberty cause and over conscientious dealings with civil powers, including questions over paying taxes on institutional property. With humble hearts touched by the Holy Spirit and hearts filled with the spirit of Jesus, with the grace and gentleness of Christ, they are to leave matters in God's hands for Him to adjust instead of taking extreme positions and burdening themselves. Then false ideas will be modified, correct principles will be seen, and the present order of things will be changed. The prayer also teaches humility while maintaining a clear distinction between God's commandment-keeping people and those who have no respect for His law.