History
Nehemiah prayed and fasted
Nehemiah 1:4-6a
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
Contrition
Nehemiah 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.
“I’m sorry” carries an implicit desire to change your behavior
Fasting and expectation
Fasting is essentially giving up food (or something else) for a period of time in order to focus your thoughts and prayers on God.
Fasting is seen to intensify prayer.
Reconciliation and Correction
Nehemiah 9:2 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.
When it says they separated themselves from foreigners, it means they are only to going to worship and take counsel with others who share their beliefs.
Foreigners are welcome, just remember Ruth.
Nehemiah 9:3 3 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 worshiping the Lord their God.
Correction without the intake of God’s word is futile, fruitless and fleeting.
True confession is asking for pardon from sin and unrighteous behavior.
True confession focuses on God. Nehemiah 9: 38 38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.”