O Lord, let Your ear be attentive (Nehemiah 1:1-11 & 2:1-8)

Nehemiah could have minimised the tragedy of the destruction of his home city, or felt apathy toward it. He is living in Susa, the most liveable city of Persia, and has influence as the loyal cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I. Yet, Nehemiah wept and prayed. First, he adores God and praises his glory, realising that he cannot do anything without God. Second, aware of God’s steadfast love, Nehemiah prays on behalf of his people, bearing the responsibility for Israel’s disobedience, prefiguring Christ.

Many times we come across mess in our lives, our work, our family, the church, and the world. Everytime we have the choice to keep calm and carry on, or to reckon with the mess and do something about it. It is easy to shift the blame, and the responsibility, to someone else. Yet, we ought to take the responsibility on ourselves. May we repent of the deceit, false teaching, hypocrisy, hardness of heart, misplaced love, worship of idols, disdain toward the church and contempt toward our fellow brothers and sisters. We repent of our personal and collective sin, praying alongside Nehemiah: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant.”

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