Nehemiah 1:1-11: The Faithful Cupbearer Prays

Like the book of Ezra, the book of Nehemiah details both the physical restoration of the city of Jerusalem and the spiritual restoration of the faith of God’s people. Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia, receives word that the city walls of Jerusalem remain in ruins, even many years after the temple had been rebuilt. Recognizing the shame of this reality, Nehemiah turns to the LORD in prayer, even as he makes preparations to request permission to act. He calls upon the LORD as the faithful God who will hear and answer for the sake of His own name. As Nehemiah confesses his sin and the sin of the people, he asks that God would remember the promises that He spoke to Moses and now give success to what Nehemiah intends. Rev. Dr. Kevin Golden, Associate Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Nehemiah 1:1-11. "God Brings His People Home” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After 70 years in exile, the LORD began to fulfill His promise to bring His people back to the Promised Land. In the years that followed, faithful clergy and dedicated laity worked together to rebuild Jerusalem physically and restore the people of God spiritually. Through it all, God was at work to keep His promise of bringing the Savior into the world in the fullness of time.