Nehemiah 1:11 - Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
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What does "Nehemiah 1:11" mean?
This verse is a heartfelt prayer from Nehemiah, and it can be broken down into a few key parts to understand its meaning:
"Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant..." - Nehemiah is pleading with God to listen closely and carefully to his prayer. He emphasizes his humility by referring to himself as "your servant."
"...and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name..." - Nehemiah widens the scope of his prayer to include other Israelites who also revere and respect God. "To fear your name" doesn't mean to be terrified, but rather to hold God in high regard, to respect His power, and to obey His commands. He is praying for all the faithful.
"...and please prosper your servant today..." - Nehemiah asks for God's favor and success in his current endeavor. He is specifically asking for God to pave the way for positive outcomes.
"...and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” - This is the crucial part of the prayer. Nehemiah needs to approach a specific individual ("this man"), presumably King Artaxerxes (as indicated by his role as cupbearer). He is asking God to make the king well-disposed towards him, to show him kindness, and to be receptive to whatever request he will make.
"Now I was cup bearer to the king." - This is a statement of Nehemiah's position. Being a cupbearer was an important and trusted role, as the cupbearer was responsible for ensuring the king's drink was safe (not poisoned). This position gave Nehemiah access to the king and some level of influence, but it also meant he was in a vulnerable position, dependent on the king's favor. This seemingly small detail adds weight to the prayer. It's not just anyone asking for favor; it's someone in a position of responsibility praying for God's intervention in a delicate situation.
In essence, Nehemiah is praying for God to listen to his prayer and the prayers of other faithful Israelites, to grant him success in his mission, and most importantly, to influence the king's heart to be merciful and grant him favor. He needs the king to be receptive to his request.
This prayer sets the stage for the rest of the book of Nehemiah, which recounts how he obtained permission from the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. His prayer shows his faith and dependence on God to accomplish this important task.
Nehemiah 1:11 - Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cup bearer to the king.
What does "Nehemiah 1:11" mean?
This verse is a heartfelt prayer from Nehemiah, and it can be broken down into a few key parts to understand its meaning:
"Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant..." - Nehemiah is pleading with God to listen closely and carefully to his prayer. He emphasizes his humility by referring to himself as "your servant."
"...and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name..." - Nehemiah widens the scope of his prayer to include other Israelites who also revere and respect God. "To fear your name" doesn't mean to be terrified, but rather to hold God in high regard, to respect His power, and to obey His commands. He is praying for all the faithful.
"...and please prosper your servant today..." - Nehemiah asks for God's favor and success in his current endeavor. He is specifically asking for God to pave the way for positive outcomes.
"...and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” - This is the crucial part of the prayer. Nehemiah needs to approach a specific individual ("this man"), presumably King Artaxerxes (as indicated by his role as cupbearer). He is asking God to make the king well-disposed towards him, to show him kindness, and to be receptive to whatever request he will make.
"Now I was cup bearer to the king." - This is a statement of Nehemiah's position. Being a cupbearer was an important and trusted role, as the cupbearer was responsible for ensuring the king's drink was safe (not poisoned). This position gave Nehemiah access to the king and some level of influence, but it also meant he was in a vulnerable position, dependent on the king's favor. This seemingly small detail adds weight to the prayer. It's not just anyone asking for favor; it's someone in a position of responsibility praying for God's intervention in a delicate situation.
In essence, Nehemiah is praying for God to listen to his prayer and the prayers of other faithful Israelites, to grant him success in his mission, and most importantly, to influence the king's heart to be merciful and grant him favor. He needs the king to be receptive to his request.
This prayer sets the stage for the rest of the book of Nehemiah, which recounts how he obtained permission from the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls. His prayer shows his faith and dependence on God to accomplish this important task.