尼希米記1:1-11

      

1:1 哈迦利亞的兒子尼希米的言語如下：亞達薛西王二十年基斯流月，我在書珊城的宮中。
1:2 那時，有我一個弟兄哈拿尼，同著幾個人從猶大來。我問他們那些被擄歸回、剩下逃脫的猶大人和耶路撒冷的光景。
1:3 他們對我說：「那些被擄歸回剩下的人在猶大省遭大難，受凌辱；並且耶路撒冷的城牆拆毀，城門被火焚燒。」
1:4 我聽見這話，就坐下哭泣，悲哀幾日，在天上的上帝面前禁食祈禱，說：
1:5 「耶和華─天上的上帝，大而可畏的上帝啊，你向愛你、守你誡命的人守約施慈愛。
1:6 願你睜眼看，側耳聽，你僕人晝夜在你面前為你眾僕人以色列民的祈禱，承認我們以色列人向你所犯的罪；我與我父家都有罪了。
1:7 我們向你所行的甚是邪惡，沒有遵守你藉著僕人摩西所吩咐的誡命、律例、典章。
1:8 求你記念所吩咐你僕人摩西的話，說：『你們若犯罪，我就把你們分散在萬民中；
1:9 但你們若歸向我，謹守遵行我的誡命，你們被趕散的人雖在天涯，我也必從那裡將他們招聚回來，帶到我所選擇立為我名的居所。』
1:10 這都是你的僕人、你的百姓，就是你用大力和大能的手所救贖的。
1:11 主啊，求你側耳聽你僕人的祈禱，和喜愛敬畏你名眾僕人的祈禱，使你僕人現今亨通，在王面前蒙恩。」我是作王酒政的。

 

 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.

 

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    尼希米是一位禱告的人，他勇敢的向上帝求。不過他的禱告是以認罪做開始，這是一個禱告重要的原則。因為我們來到上帝面前的時候，感受到自己是有罪和虧欠上帝的人，所以首要的次序就是要認罪，讓主來潔淨我們的罪！

 

    當然人要在上帝面前站立得住，就需要贖罪祭的獻上，靠著羔羊的血才能得潔淨！今日我們到上帝面前也是靠羔羊的血，就是主耶穌的寶血。然而不僅要有羔羊血，人也要認罪與自潔！

 

    尼希米的禱告，是我們親近主的禱告之典範，也是我們享受與父神美好關係的開始！切記，我們早上、晚上的私禱和禮拜的公禱，都要以「認罪」來親近上帝！