Sins of the fathers
Opening Prayer
Lord, move my heart with conviction and compassion as I seek forgiveness for myself and my communities.
Read NEHEMIAH 1:1–11
[1] The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, [2] Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. [3] They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” [4] When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. [5] Then I said: “LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, [6] let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. [7] We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. [8] “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, [9] but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ [10] “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. [11] Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does Nehemiah pray?I was born and brought up in Middlesbrough, and although many years have passed since I lived there I still feel a very strong sense of connection. I love to hear news of its people and places, to go back and catch up. The news Nehemiah hears of Jerusalem, his home city, is not good. Devastation and trouble await the returning Israelites (3). Nehemiah shares their grief (4). Brought up in the Jewish tradition, he has a deep sense of his people’s history and of how important it still is to him and his fellow Jews. He immediately turns to God in fasting and prayer. He knows the situation was not caused by just one man’s wrongdoing, so he doesn’t merely confess his own sins but those of the whole nation, past and present (6,7). That is big. We sometimes find it hard enough to come to God confessing our own sins. We might not have the ear of kings like Nehemiah did, but there are still ways we can make a difference. We can certainly start by praying for our immediate family. And who knows where that might lead?
Apply
Think about a cause that is dear to your heart. Ask God to show you how you can help to raise awareness of it.
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