God's Character, the Foundation of Prayer – Meditations on Nehemiah 1

And 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" (Nehemiah 1:5).

 
Nehemiah knew what to do about his depression and about the situation in Jerusalem. He says that for many days he continued to fast and pray before the God of heaven (Nehemiah 1:4). Nehemiah's prayer is a model for us as we look to overcome the shame of our past. But more than that, it is a model for how we should pray in general.

The first thing that Nehemiah did was to remember God's character. By character, I mean the qualities of God's person that define who he is. For example, we have heard it said that God is love. We also know that God is just. This means that everything that God does is both loving and right. To do otherwise would compromise God and prove him to be something other than he is. It is impossible for him ever to act in a way that is contrary to his character.

The qualities of God's character that Nehemiah points out are his sovereignty, faithfulness, and love. Nehemiah addressed God as "Lord God of heaven" (v. 5). This expression does not mean that God lives in heaven. This is not "the man upstairs" theology. It is a phrase that emphasizes that God's rule is not limited to any place on earth. In Nehemiah's time, each nation believed in their own god or gods - Babylon had her own gods, Egypt had her own gods, Assyria had her own gods. Nehemiah's address to God meant that he recognized God as the sovereign ruler of everything. Even those who did not recognize him were under his dominion. Nehemiah was praying, "God, I know that you are in control and rule over every part of this earth. You are in control of what is happening in Jerusalem and you are in control over Artaxerxes. I am bringing my case before you because you are sovereign. You are the only one who can remove this shame and restore Jerusalem.

Nehemiah then mentions God's faithfulness and love in an expression that is reminiscent of the words God spoke to Moses (Exodus 34:6-7; Deuteronomy 7:9). He says first that God keeps covenant. A covenant was a sacred agreement between two parties, in this case between God and Israel. In this covenant, God promised to bless Israel if she was faithful to him. The idea that God keeps covenant means that God is faithful to do what he promised to do. Nehemiah is here saying, "God, I know that everything you have promised will come to pass. You are faithful to your word, and able to accomplish your word, so when you speak I know that it will be done."

Finally, Nehemiah says that God keeps steadfast love. The word for steadfast love is one word in Hebrew - chesed- and is sometimes translated lovingkindess. This word was used to signify God's unfailing, loyal affection for those with whom he is in covenant. It is his settled disposition. In other words, God's chesed means that he is committed to Israel's wellbeing, blessing, and happiness. And since he is both sovereign (able to accomplish his promise) and faithful, Israel should be a very happy people, indeed. Nehemiah, then, is praying, "Lord, I know that you are committed to this people's happiness. You are not simply bound to bless us because you promised, but you love us and long to bless us."

When it comes to our own prayer life, we need to be immersed in an understanding of who God is. Our prayers should be saturated with an awareness of the one with whom we speak. God has not changed. He is still sovereign over every circumstance of your life. He is still faithful to do what he has spoken; he would cease to be God before his promises fail. He is still abounds in chesed, steadfast love for you; he is committed to your good.

There is one place that we may look to see all of these attributes at work and on display - the cross of Jesus Christ. In the cross, God demonstrated his sovereignty. Jesus was betrayed, tried, condemned, and executed according to the plan of God (Acts 2:23; 4:28). The most horrific act in history, the murder of the Son of God, was sovereignly directed by God to accomplish the greatest good for man and the greatest glory for God. In the cross, God demonstrated his faithfulness. God had promised to send a Savior. He had said that this Savior would suffer and bear the sins of his people (Isaiah 53). This promise, as well as many others, was fulfilled in Christ. And in the cross of Christ, God demonstrated his unfailing love. Paul writes, "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). May God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and love drive you, and me, to prayer this week.