(a)(i)Explain how Nehemiah received the news about... | WAEC SSCE - Christian Religious Studies - 2006 (Essay)

Question 1 Report

(a)(i)Explain how Nehemiah received the news about the state of affairs in Jerusalem.

(ii)Relate Nehemiah's prayer when he received the news.

(b) Identify three virtues that can be learnt from Nehemiah's reaction.

Answer

(a)(i) How Nehemiah received the news about the state of affairs in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:1-4):

In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, Nehemiah was in Susa the capital, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.
Hanani, one of his brethren, came from Judah with certain men.
Nehemiah asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped exile, and about Jerusalem.
They reported that the survivors were in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates had been destroyed by fire.
On hearing this, Nehemiah sat down and wept, mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

(a)(ii) Nehemiah's prayer when he received the news (Nehemiah 1:5-11):

He addressed God as "O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
He asked God to let His ear be attentive and His eyes open to hear the prayer of His servant offered day and night for the people of Israel.
He made a confession of sin, acknowledging that he and the house of Israel, including himself and his father's house, had sinned and had not kept the commandments given through Moses.
He reminded God of His word to Moses: that if they were unfaithful He would scatter them, but if they returned and obeyed, He would gather them from the farthest places to the place He had chosen.
He appealed that they were God's servants and people whom He had redeemed by His great power.
He asked God to grant him mercy and success in the presence of the king ("this man"), for he was about to make his request. He ended, "for I was cupbearer to the king."

(b) Three virtues that can be learnt from Nehemiah's reaction:

Deep concern and patriotism for the welfare of his people and his homeland.
A spirit of prayer and dependence on God, turning first to God with fasting before acting.
Humility and honesty, shown in confessing the nation's sins and his own before seeking God's help.

Answer Details

(a)(i) How Nehemiah received the news about the state of affairs in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:1-4):

In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, Nehemiah was in Susa the capital, serving as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.
Hanani, one of his brethren, came from Judah with certain men.
Nehemiah asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped exile, and about Jerusalem.
They reported that the survivors were in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates had been destroyed by fire.
On hearing this, Nehemiah sat down and wept, mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

(a)(ii) Nehemiah's prayer when he received the news (Nehemiah 1:5-11):

He addressed God as "O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
He asked God to let His ear be attentive and His eyes open to hear the prayer of His servant offered day and night for the people of Israel.
He made a confession of sin, acknowledging that he and the house of Israel, including himself and his father's house, had sinned and had not kept the commandments given through Moses.
He reminded God of His word to Moses: that if they were unfaithful He would scatter them, but if they returned and obeyed, He would gather them from the farthest places to the place He had chosen.
He appealed that they were God's servants and people whom He had redeemed by His great power.
He asked God to grant him mercy and success in the presence of the king ("this man"), for he was about to make his request. He ended, "for I was cupbearer to the king."

(b) Three virtues that can be learnt from Nehemiah's reaction:

Deep concern and patriotism for the welfare of his people and his homeland.
A spirit of prayer and dependence on God, turning first to God with fasting before acting.
Humility and honesty, shown in confessing the nation's sins and his own before seeking God's help.

(a)(i)Explain how Nehemiah received the news about the state of affairs in Jerusalem. (ii)Relate Nehemiah's prayer when he received the news. (b) Identify t...