Of all the peoples of the world, the Lord had established a bond of love with the people of Israel
alone (Deuteronomy 7:6). Concerning this people, the Lord had promised blessings on obedience and curses on disobedience (Deuteronomy 11:26–32; Deuteronomy 28:1–68), and concerning this people Solomon had prayed in step with God’s promises (1 Kings 8:22–53; 2 Chronicles 6:12–42). It is striking that in his prayer Solomon spoke of servant
(2 Chronicles 6:19), a term Nehemiah echoes. With that term Nehemiah also confesses the people’s unworthiness to receive any good thing and their dependence on God’s grace. The term translated as servant
means slave.
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.