Nehemiah 1:5—“And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments”.
Nehemiah’s prayer arises from deep grief. While serving in the Persian king’s palace at Shushan, Nehemiah learned that Jerusalem lay in ruins, its walls broken down and its people living in reproach. Though he serves in comfort in the Persian court, his heart is bound to God’s city and God’s people. Before he speaks to the king about his people’s condition, Nehemiah falls on his knees before God, fasting and praying for days. His prayer is shaped by Scripture, theology, and covenant faith.
He begins, “O LORD God of heaven,” confessing God’s supreme sovereignty over all nations and rulers. The ruined condition of Jerusalem is not beyond God’s reach. Calling Him “the great and terrible God,” Nehemiah acknowledges God’s holiness and righteous power, the very qualities Israel has offended by sin. Yet this awe-filled address quickly moves to hope: God is the One “that keepeth covenant and mercy.” Nehemiah anchors his plea not in Israel’s merit but in God’s unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises.
The covenant in view is the one God made with His people, a bond upheld by divine mercy. Nehemiah knows Israel has broken the covenant, and he will soon confess that sin plainly. Still, he prays because God remains faithful even when His people are not. Mercy here is not sentimental; it is loyal love, steadfast and pledged.
This teaches us how to pray amid ruin, whether it be personal, ecclesial, or societal. We come honestly, reverently, and confidently, appealing to God’s covenant mercy. Those who love Him and seek to obey Him must first depend on Him for forgiveness and restoration. Like Nehemiah, let us pray trusting that the covenant-keeping God delights to restore what sin has broken, for His glory and His name’s sake.
