In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.

They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 1:1b-4

While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him.
Ezra 10:1

• The book of Nehemiah opens in the year 445 BC, over a hundred years after the first wave of exiles returned to Jerusalem. While the Temple had been rebuilt, the city walls were still in ruins, leaving the people vulnerable and shamed.
• Nehemiah, a Jewish official serving in the Persian court, receives devastating news. His response provides a powerful model for how we should respond to the burdens God places on our hearts.
• Nehemiah is cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, a position of great trust and influence in the Persian Empire. He has wealth, power, and security, living in the capital city of Susa. He is far removed from the struggles of his people in Jerusalem.

• Nehemiah questions some travelers from Judah about the state of Jerusalem. Their report is grim: "The remnant who returned to the province of Judah are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."
• The news is about more than just a physical wall. The broken walls symbolize:
  
  • Vulnerability: Without walls, the city was defenseless against enemies.
  • Shame & Disgrace: In the ancient world, a city without walls was a public humiliation, a sign of its defeat and weakness.
  • Spiritual Brokenness: The state of the walls was an outward reflection of the spiritual brokenness of the people.

• Nehemiah’s prayer is a model for us today. 
• Adoration and Acknowledgment: Nehemiah begins by praising God for who He is. "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands."
  
  • He acknowledges God's greatness, His power, and His faithfulness to His promises. This grounds his prayer in God's character, not his own desires.
• Confession of Sin: Nehemiah includes himself in the confession of his people's sin. "Listen to me and hear my prayer... I confess that we have sinned against you... We have disobeyed all the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave to your servant Moses."
  
  • He doesn't blame the people who are currently in Jerusalem. He takes corporate responsibility for the generational sin of his people. This is a crucial element of effective intercession.
• Reminding God of His Promises: Nehemiah bases his request on God's own words. He recalls the warnings in the Law (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 4 and 30) about being scattered if they disobeyed, and the promise that if they returned, God would gather them.
  
  • "Please remember what you told your servant Moses." Nehemiah appeals to God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. He is essentially holding God's own word before Him.
• The Specific Petition: After adoration, confession, and remembrance, Nehemiah finally gets to his request. "O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Give me success today as I go to the king, and bless me with his favor."
  
  • He asks for two specific things:
    
    1. God's favor on their prayers.
    2. Success with the king.
  • Nehemiah knows he cannot act on his own. He needs God to open the door and grant him favor.

• Nehemiah's prayer is a template for us. It moves from focusing on God's character to honest confession, to standing on God's promises, and finally, to making a specific petition.

Nehemiah's response to a burden wasn't to complain or despair. It was to pray with profound humility and faith, believing that God would act. His prayer wasn't just a cry for help; it was the first step in a divinely guided plan to act on his burden. Remember that God wants us to communicate with Him so He can show us His lovingkindness and care.