Today we continue our look at the ACTS acrostic in the prayer of Nehemiah.
Nehemiah has reminded himself of what he is doing and the greatness and character of the God to whom he is directing his prayer. The second element in Nehemiah’s prayer is confession of sin. “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses” (vv. 6-7).
Nehemiah knew that the sin of the Israelites had caused the judgment of God that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem. If Jerusalem were to be restored, it would need to be restored upon the basis of a confession of these sins. So Nehemiah is specific about them: “We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.” What is most striking about his confession is that he includes himself in the acknowledgment of these sins. There are two important principles here. First, Nehemiah recognizes the principle of solidarity, namely, that he is one with the people so that his sins are their sins and theirs are his. He does not try to distance himself from them. Second, Nehemiah recognizes that he is himself a sinner. That is, there is no sin of the people which led to the fall of Jerusalem of which he is not guilty or which he is not capable of having done in the same circumstances.
Here is a secret of true leadership. A true leader is not so much aware of the talents or gifts he has that others do not have as he is of the fact that he is as weak and as capable of sin as anyone. It is when leaders forget their sinfulness that they fall into sin and lose their leadership ability.
The third element in this and all good prayers is thanksgiving. In this case it is expressed in Nehemiah’s review of God’s promises. “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 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.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand” (vv. 8-10). These words express the great covenant principle of Deuteronomy, expressed most clearly in chapters 28 and 30. That covenant had two sides: 1) blessing and 2) judgment. It was conditional. If the people would obey God, He would bless them and establish them securely in the land. But if they should disobey Him, then He would scatter them—as He had done through the overthrow of the northern kingdom in 721 B.C. and the southern kingdom in 586 B.C. Nehemiah reviews this promise because, although it contains a warning of judgment following upon disobedience it also suggests a time of blessing if the people should repent.
By his repentance Nehemiah wants to represent the people in a way which will cause God to be merciful to them once again.
