Corporate Prayer – Nehemiah chapter 9
Corporate prayer simply means prayer together when we gather for worship.
- A Response to God’s Word v3-5 – “They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshipping the Lord their God.“ Revelation precedes prayer. He initiates, we respond. As in Eden, He, not they initiated reconciliation.
- A Recognition of God’s Greatness v6-8 – “You alone are the Lord…”
- A Recollection of God’s Deliverance v9-15 – in Egypt, “You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea“
- A Remembrance of God’s Grace despite man’s sinfulness v16-31 – a dark turn with the cycle of disobedience and grace. “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. … But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.”
- A Realisation of God’s Love v32 – “Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love”.
- A Request for God’s Help v32 – “do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes”.
Prayer is not about it you, but Him. The only contribution we make is in no.4, we sin. He does the rest, all out of His great love and goodness.
New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
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