Broken Covenant

Nehemiah 1:4-11, “When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!”

Nehemiah was in captivity when he learned of the destruction of the walls and gates of Jerusalem. He was devastated. Nehemiah tells God that he knows the faithfulness of God and begs God’s mercy in sparing Jerusalem. Nehemiah also knows what God knows and that is that the people of Jerusalem nee Israel have sinned against God and that they have not kept covenant. Nehemiah in his confession of sin, doesn’t ask God for justice, rather he begs for mercy. He knows that we must first confess our sins to God, ask forgiveness and finally repent. Why are we waiting? Do we want mercy before we have to beg? We broke covenant – God didn’t.

Prayer: Hear our prayers O God. You created us in your very image but we have fallen to sin. Forgive us we pray. Guide us in Your Holy Way – through Your Son Jesus Christ. AMEN.