Prayer Series Pt 2: The Power of Remembrance
“And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.” (Nehemiah. 1:5-6)
Prayer is an essential aspect of the journey of a believer. Crafted by God as a unique communion, we are humbly reminded of our dependence on the Creator of the human soul. In the previous post, we discussed the significance of prayer as being wonderful and mysterious and yet part of the warrior’s equipment. The beauty of confession and intercession in prayer was outlined, including the role despair can have in serving as a catalyst towards their calling.
In continuation, there is an additional conception that might be gleaned from Nehemiah’s prayer:
Remembrance.
More specifically, recalling who God is and who we truly are.
Nehemiah knew personally the One to whom he was praying too. And he had confidence in the true identity of not only himself but the people for which he was praying for.
The people from Israel were exiles, living in great agony and shame upon finding the wall of Jerusalem broken down. (Neh. 1:3). Yet, there remained hope, found in the unshakeable truths, which never spoil nor fade through the exposure of grueling circumstances. And it is found within these truths the border of prayer.
Remembering who God is
Though he had entered prayer with a sense of despair, it is important to note that Nehemiah did not forsake His high view of God. His circumstances which provoked sheer agony, did not taint the truth of who the Lord had revealed Himself to be, and this was evident within his prayer.
Nehemiah knew God as one who was sovereign over all, mighty, and faithful.
Verses 5 states:
“And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments” (Neh. 1:5)
He knew the character of his Heavenly Father. God is mighty and dearly loves His people. He knew the Lord was gracious, even though his people were surrounded by difficult circumstances. Nehemiah recognized that God was exactly who He had revealed Himself to be: He had not changed.
Extending from this, Nehemiah understood that God could be trusted to keep all of his promises. Notice that Nehemiah describes God as one “who keeps his covenant of love” (Neh. 1:5). Verse 8 reads:
“Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations” (Neh. 1:8).
The response to this astonishing truth is the fear of the Lord. Not in an unhealthy sense, but in reverence to the mighty God who is all-powerful yet extends His gracious hand to us as a loving Father. Nehemiah writes:
“O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” (Neh. 1:11).
He understood that in communicating to the living God, a beautiful sense of awe and respect was required.
Remember Our Identity
Nehemiah also recognized where the identity of his people was found and, subsequently, his own identity.
Verse 10 reads:
“Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand.” (Neh. 1:10).
Throughout the prayer, the people are referenced as “servants of God”, Nehemiah using this description for both his own personal identity and for the Israelites (Neh. 1:6, 10, 11).
In other words, they are the Lord’s people.
Though the world may regard the term “servants” as not ideal, to the Christ-follower, it is a blissful response. When encountering the wondrous love of God, the idea of acknowledging God as the authority is comforting. It is to be in the very arms of the Father, who loves his people with an “everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3).
What follows from this is a walk of obedience. Not extending from obligation but the response of supreme love. This is highlighted in Nehemiah’s prayer, as he writes:
“but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.” (Neh. 1:9).
Thus, knowledge of who God is and our true identity is an essential part of prayer. It allows us to come to the Lord with recognition of His majesty, gentleness, and love. Though there is the freedom to pour out our hearts to the Lord (Psalm 62:8), that does not negate the retention of these truths, as exemplified by Nehemiah and various Psalms which offer the same model.
These truths were always present in the spiritual renewing of the people of God, in revival, historically speaking. For the recognition of who God is (His supreme holiness) and who we truly are (people engulfed in a state of sin) brings people to their knees in reverent fear.
Yet, the knowledge of the gracious love of God and the humble recognition that we are redeemed through the precious sacrifice of Jesus allows us to get up and rejoice, for the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10).
So next time you come to the Lord in prayer, may you come with a sense of wonder of His beautiful mystery, reverent fear of His majesty, and a restful spirit, knowing that if you are a follower of God, you are a beloved child.
Blessings,
