Last night, based on an Old Testament passage taken from Nehemiah chapter 1, I published a preliminary introduction arguing for the scarcity of prayer words in our time. Empirically, we can say that such a scarcity characterizes our time due to prayerlessness, lack of prayer concerts, unfashionability of talk about revival, and the invasion of man-centered concerns in both public and private prayers. In this post, I just want to further answer the question of how can we know that such a lack of prayer words exists in our time. The response to this question will be taken from the chapter under study.

Central Question: How can we know that scarcity in prayer words characterizes our time?

We can know that such scarcity exists if we ask the right question, vs. 1-2.

The reference here is to Nehemiah's question. After hearing that his brother, Hanani, and some other men came from Judah, Nehemiah asked them about the situation of the Jewish remnant at that time and the city of Jerusalem. Nehemiah, despite his high position and comfortable situation in life, what occupied his mind was about the welfare of his people and the city of Jerusalem.

In the New Testament, the identity of the people of God is called by various names such as the Bride of Christ, the Flock of God, and the Church. Scarcity in prayer words can only be realized if one's mind is preoccupied with concern for the current condition of the church. And such concern starts with an appropriate question.

Asking the right question will lead you to identify the real status of the people of God, vs. 3-4.

Hearing Nehemiah's question, Hanani and some other men with him informed his brother about the status of the survivors and the condition of the city. They told him that the survivors were in great trouble and disgrace that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and that the gates were burned with fire.

How about the people of God today? In what sense we are in great trouble and disgrace? In what sense, our "walls" are broken down and our "gates" are burned with fire? (Both walls and the gates that surround the city in the Old Testament symbolize peace and security of the people living inside the city). Isn't the church of today afflicted with so many inconsistencies that affect our public testimony? How is the life of God's people different from the people of this world? It appears that in terms of moral standards, we cannot find any difference.

Contrasting contemporary prayer with biblical prayers, vs. 5-11.

Two characteristics distinguished Nehemiah's prayer from most prayers this day:

• Consciousness of God, and

• Consciousness of sin

Observe that Nehemiah's prayer has a high view of God. He addressed Him as "Lord," "keeper of the covenant of love," "the God of heaven," and "the great and awesome God." He asked God to "be attentive" to his prayer and for God "to open" His eyes to see the misery of His people. He even asked God "to remember" the instruction he gave to Moses.

Are God's ears deaf? Are His eyes blind? Is He forgetful and His memories short?

And so the problem is not with God, but His people. They were no longer lovers of God. They violated His commands. Nehemiah acknowledged this. He did not point the blame to the people and exempt himself. Instead, he confessed that even he and his family were guilty of acting against God.

In today's talk, God and sin seem to be out of place. All we hear is about the focus on self. That is understandable for those who deny the existence of God. However, for those who call themselves followers of God, and yet not to be conscious of sin and His presence in our daily life, I don't know how to describe such a situation.