This verse, Nehemiah 1:10, is part of Nehemiah's prayer to God. He is reminding God of His past actions and using that as a basis for his plea for God's mercy and help. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Now these are your servants and your people...": This is Nehemiah identifying the Jewish people, who are in a state of distress in Jerusalem, as belonging to God. He's emphasizing their special relationship with God. They are not just any people; they are God's servants and God's people.
"...whom you have redeemed...": This is crucial. "Redeemed" refers to God's act of freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a defining moment in their history. It implies a costly rescue and a deep commitment from God to His people. God bought them back.
"...by your great power, and by your strong hand.": This phrase emphasizes the miraculous nature of the Exodus. The deliverance from Egypt was not due to human effort or chance, but through God's overwhelming power. The "strong hand" is a common biblical metaphor for God's strength and active intervention in history.
In essence, the verse is a powerful reminder to God of the following:
Relationship: The Jewish people are God's chosen people, bound to Him by covenant.
Past Action: God has already demonstrated His love and commitment to them by rescuing them from slavery with immense power.
Implicit Plea: "You rescued us once; please remember your promise and your past actions and help us now in our current distress." Nehemiah is banking on God's character and faithfulness. He's saying, "You wouldn't have gone to all that trouble to redeem us just to abandon us now, would you?"
Context is important: Nehemiah is praying in response to hearing about the dire situation in Jerusalem, where the walls are broken down and the people are suffering. He feels a burden for his people and is appealing to God for help in rebuilding the city and restoring their community. This verse is a key part of his strategic prayer, aimed at moving God to act.
This verse, Nehemiah 1:10, is part of Nehemiah's prayer to God. He is reminding God of His past actions and using that as a basis for his plea for God's mercy and help. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Now these are your servants and your people...": This is Nehemiah identifying the Jewish people, who are in a state of distress in Jerusalem, as belonging to God. He's emphasizing their special relationship with God. They are not just any people; they are God's servants and God's people.
"...whom you have redeemed...": This is crucial. "Redeemed" refers to God's act of freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a defining moment in their history. It implies a costly rescue and a deep commitment from God to His people. God bought them back.
"...by your great power, and by your strong hand.": This phrase emphasizes the miraculous nature of the Exodus. The deliverance from Egypt was not due to human effort or chance, but through God's overwhelming power. The "strong hand" is a common biblical metaphor for God's strength and active intervention in history.
In essence, the verse is a powerful reminder to God of the following:
Relationship: The Jewish people are God's chosen people, bound to Him by covenant.
Past Action: God has already demonstrated His love and commitment to them by rescuing them from slavery with immense power.
Implicit Plea: "You rescued us once; please remember your promise and your past actions and help us now in our current distress." Nehemiah is banking on God's character and faithfulness. He's saying, "You wouldn't have gone to all that trouble to redeem us just to abandon us now, would you?"
Context is important: Nehemiah is praying in response to hearing about the dire situation in Jerusalem, where the walls are broken down and the people are suffering. He feels a burden for his people and is appealing to God for help in rebuilding the city and restoring their community. This verse is a key part of his strategic prayer, aimed at moving God to act.