TUESDAY 8TH MAY 2018 MORNING
Nehemiah 1:1-11 New International Version (NIV)
Nehemiah’s Prayer
1The 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.
In the Bible we have advice and instructions about prayer and also examples of the Prayers of Jesus Christ and other people. Today we read the prayer of Nehemiah. He got bad news about the broken down state of the city of Jerusalem.
This caused him great grief. He fasted and wept before God and then He repented on behalf of the Jewish people and asked God for mercy and forgiveness. He also asked for favour and a good response when he talked to his master The King.
Study this prayer and think what you can learn for your own prayers.
JUMANNE TAREHE 8 MEI 2018 ASUBUHI
NEHEMIA 1:1-11
1 Habari za Nehemia, mwana wa Hakalia. Ikawa katika mwezi wa Kisleu, mwaka wa ishirini, nilipokuwapo Shushani ngomeni,
2 Hanani, mmoja wa ndugu zangu, akanijia, yeye na watu wengine waliotoka Yuda; nami nikawauliza habari za Wayahudi waliopona, hao watu wa uhamisho waliosalia; na habari za Yerusalemu.
3 Wakaniambia, Watu wa uhamisho, waliosalia huko katika wilaya ile, wamo katika hali ya dhiki nyingi na mashutumu; tena ukuta wa Yerusalemu umebomolewa, na malango yake yameteketezwa kwa moto.
4 Hata ikawa niliposikia maneno hayo, nikaketi, nikalia, nikaomboleza siku kadha wa kadha; kisha nikafunga, nikaomba mbele za Mungu wa mbinguni;
5 nikasema, Nakusihi, Ee Bwana, Mungu wa mbinguni, Mungu mkuu, mwenye kuogofya, mwenye kutimiza agano lake na rehema zake kwa hao wampendao na kuzishika amri zake;
6 tega sikio lako, macho yako yakafumbuke, upate kuyasikiliza maombi ya mtumishi wako, ninayoomba mbele zako wakati huu, mchana na usiku, kwa ajili ya wana wa Israeli, watumishi wako; hapo ninapoziungama dhambi za wana wa Israeli, tulizozifanya juu yako; naam, mimi na nyumba ya baba yangu tumefanya dhambi.
7 Tumetenda maovu mengi juu yako, wala hatukuzishika amri, wala sheria, wala hukumu, ulizomwamuru Musa, mtumishi wako.
8 Nakuomba, likumbuke neno lile ulilomwamuru Musa, mtumishi wako, ukisema, Mkikosa, nitawatawanya kati ya mataifa;
9 bali mkinirudia mimi, na kuzishika amri zangu na kuzitenda, watu wako waliofukuzwa wajapokuwa katika pande za mwisho za mbingu, hata hivyo nitawakusanya kutoka huko, na kuwaleta mpaka mahali pale nilipopachagua ili kuliweka jina langu hapo.
10 Basi watu hao ni watumishi wako na watu wako, uliowakomboa kwa uweza wako mwingi, na kwa mkono wako hodari.
11 Ee Bwana, nakusihi, litege sikio lako, uyasikilize maombi ya mtumishi wako, na maombi ya watumishi wako, wanaofurahi kulicha jina lako; nakuomba sana; unifanikishe mimi, mtumishi wako, leo, ukanijalie rehema mbele ya mtu huyu. (Maana, nalikuwa mnyweshaji wa mfalme).
Katika Biblia tunasoma mafundisho kuhusu maombi na pia mifano ya maombi ya Yesu Kristo na watu mbalimbali.
Leo tumesoma sala ya Nehemia. Nehemia alisikia habari mbaya kutoka Yerusalemu kwamba Jiji la Yerusalemu limebomolewa vibaya.
Alisikitika na alilia na kufunga na kuombeleza mbele ya Mungu. Kisha aliomba sala ilioandikwa hapo juu. Sala hii iliambatana na toba kwa ajili ya dhambi ya Wayahudi. Aliomba rehema na msamaha wa Mungu. Pia aliomba Mungu amwezeshe kuongea na Mfalme na kupata jibu zuri kutoka kwake.
Tafakari sala hii na fikiri unaweza kujifunza nini kwa maombi yako mwenyewe.
