1 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

 

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,

2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

 

3 They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

 

4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

5 Then I said:

 

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.

7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

 

8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 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.’

 

10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

 

I was cupbearer to the king.

 

느헤미야는 포로 3세였습니다. 이민 2세만 되어도 모국에 대한 느낌이 많이 없는데, 포로된지 3세되는 느헤미야가 모국의 소식을 듣고 울고 수일 동안 슬퍼하며 하늘의 하나님 앞에 금식하며 기도했습니다. 기도할 때 먼저 "하늘의 하나님 여호와 크고 두려우신 하나님이여 주를 사랑하고 주의 계명을 지키는 자에게 언약을 지키시며 긍휼을 베푸시는 주여 간구하나이다"고 합니다. 하나님의 능력을 먼저 찬양하는 느헤이먀의 기도문을 보면서 우리의 기도를 되돌아봅니다. 하나님을 찬양하기 전에 먼저 내 문제에 급급하지 않았는지요. 그 다음에 나오는 느헤미야의 기도는 "나와 내 아버지의 집이 범죄하여 주를 향하여 크게 악을 행하여 주께서 주의 종 모세에게 명령하신 계명과 율례와 규례를 지키지 아니하였나이다"라고 조상의 죄에 대해 회개합니다. 내가 직접 짓지도 않은, 조상이 지은 죄까지 자세하게 고백하면서 용서를 구하고 있습니다. 그리고 하나님의 약속을 언급하며 하나님께 간구하고 있습니다. "만일 내게로 돌아와 내 계명을 지켜 행하면 너희 쫓긴 자가 하늘 끝에 있을지라도 내가 거기서부터 그들을 모아 내 이름을 두려고 택한 곳에 돌아오게 하리라 하신 말씀을 이제 청하건대 기억하옵소서" 

 

느헤미야가 민족을 위해 기도한 것 처럼 우리도 나라와 민족을 위해, 그리고 하나님이 원하시는 교회가 세워지도록 기도해야겠습니다. 나라와 민족이, 그리고 믿음 있는 자들이 주 하나님께로 돌아가도록 기도합시다. 하나님은 약속을 지키시는 분이기에, 주님이 우리에게 주신 말씀을 붙잡고 기도하면 반드시 이루어짐을 믿습니다. 하나님이 우리에게 어떤 약속을 주셨는지를 알기위해서 우리는 말씀을 읽어야 합니다. 말씀을 읽지않고 하나님이 어떤 약속을 하셨는지를 어떻게 알 수 있겠습니까? 이제 다음주부터 토요 성경학교가 시작됩니다. 나의 일상에서 스스로 말씀 읽기가 어렵다면 자꾸 교회로 발걸음을 옮겨야 할 것입니다. 우리가 약하기에 신앙의 공동체가 있는 것이고, 믿는 자들끼리 서로를 격려하면서 믿음생활을 해야 하는 것입니다. 신학기 새로운 마음으로 신앙생활도 새롭게 시작합시다. 

 

Nehemiah was a third-generation exile. Even by the second generation, immigrants often feel disconnected from their homeland, yet Nehemiah, who was part of the third generation in exile, wept and mourned for days upon hearing news of his homeland. He fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. When he prayed, he began by saying, “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Nehemiah's prayer starts by praising God's power, which leads us to reflect on our own prayers. Have we been so consumed by our problems that we forgot to praise God first? 

 

Nehemiah's prayer continues with repentance: “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, 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.” He repents not only for his own sins but also for the sins of his ancestors, humbly asking for forgiveness. Then, he reminds God of His promise: “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, '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.'"

 

Just as Nehemiah prayed for his nation, we too should pray for our country and our people, and for the establishment of the church that God desires. Let us pray that our nation, our people, and the faithful will return to the Lord God. God is faithful to His promises, and if we pray holding onto the Word that He has given us, we can believe that He will surely fulfill them. In order to know the promises that God has given us, we must read the Scriptures. How can we know God's promises if we do not read His Word? 

 

 

Next week, our Saturday Bible School begins. If it is difficult to read the Word on your own in your daily life, then you should keep coming to church. We are weak, which is why we need the community of faith. Believers must encourage each other to live out their faith. With the new school year approaching, let us also start our spiritual journey anew with fresh hearts.