1	I Sat Down and Wept (Nehemiah 1:4-11) The first chapter of Nehemiah is a powerful story about the man Nehemiah, his times, and his unwavering submission to the Lord God of heaven. Let us learn by looking at the text, the man, and the lessons.
2	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 HIS SORROW: And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, (1:4)
3	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 HIS SOVEREIGN: 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: (1:5)
4	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 “HIS” SITUATION: CONFESSION: Let mine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have
5	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandest thy servant Moses. (1:6,7)
6	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 COVENANT: Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandest thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the
7	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. (1:8,9)
8	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 CONTRAST: Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and
9	The Text: Nehemiah 1:4-11 prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer. (1:10,11)
10	The Man: Nehemiah The Chronology: 606: Captivity of Judah begins 536: Captivity of Judah ends 520-516: The second temple is finished (Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra 1-6) 485: Esther is queen to Ahasuerus
11	"458:" 458: Ezra’s main work (Ezra 7-10) 445: Nehemiah returns 440: Malachi speaks
12	The Cupbearer: (Points from various chapters) He was a man of prayer (1) He had a cause (2) He believed in people (3) He dealt with problems (4-6) He obeyed God (7) He handled discouragement (13)
13	The Character: Humility Prayer Commitment Obedience Worship Fairness
14	The Lessons: About God: His nature His attention to His people His mercy About Prayer: Do it! Choose the words carefully Imitate the faithful
15	"About Myself:" About Myself: Do I see things as they are? Do I believe in God this much? Do I really grieve over sin? About My Prayers: Am I humble enough to pray this way? Do I believe that this is essential?
16	CONCLUSION Do you need to be grieved over unforgiven sin today? Will you respond to the invitation of Christ in simple trusting faith?