Who Was Nehemiah?

Preparing for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost: Two Days before Sunday (Year B)

Scripture

Semi-continuous: Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22); Nehemiah 1:1-11; Hebrews 7:11-22

Complementary: Psalm 126; Jeremiah 26:12-24; Hebrews 7:11-22

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Prayer

Loving God, open our ears to hear your word and draw us closer to you, that the whole world may be one with you as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Revised Common Lectionary)

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Reflection

The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah, and I asked them about the Jews who escaped, those who had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. They replied, “The remnant there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the Israelites, confessing the sins of the Israelites, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded Moses your servant. Remember the word that you commanded Moses your servant, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I have chosen to establish my name.’ They are your servants and your people whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!”

At the time, I was cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:1-11).

Nehemiah was an important figure in the Bible, known for his leadership in the restoration of Jerusalem during the 5th century B.C., after the Babylonian exile. He is primarily featured in book that bears his name, which is largely a memoir of his actions and leadership.