Weekly Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 1-13

Well, it's been quite sometime since I opened the Word over Facebook Live, and I have to say it feels so good to be back. And I couldn't be happier to be picking up in the book of Nehemiah!

Nehemiah is a great example of a servant leader. He didn't just lead, he got into the trenches with the people he was leading. The first example I saw of this we in the first few verses of the book...

So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 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. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Nehemiah 1:4-7

Nehemiah didn't just pray - "Oh God, forgive the wicked children of Israel who have sinned..." Instead, he recognized that he was imperfect and that his own sin was wicked in God's eyes as well!

Another thing that caught my attention while reading was how often Nehemiah would petition God to remember the good things that he had done...

Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people. Nehemiah 5:19

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service. Nehemiah 13:14

Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love. Nehemiah 13:22b

Remember me, O my God, for good. Nehemiah 13:31

These petitions beautifully exemplify Nehemiah's humility and servant-heartedness. His constant petitioning God to remember the GOOD things he has done, shows his humility and awareness of his own flaws. I pray that the LORD keeps me as aware of my need for Him as Nehemiah was.