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Nehemiah 1 · Grade 5

A Burden Turned to Prayer

Name Date

Read and Think

The book of Nehemiah begins about thirteen years after Ezra came to Jerusalem. Nehemiah served King Artaxerxes as cupbearer in Susa. He tasted the king's wine and stood close to him each day. It was a position of trust and influence.

When Hanani and other men came from Judah, Nehemiah asked about the remnant and about Jerusalem. They said the survivors were in great affliction and reproach. The wall was broken down, and the gates were burned. Nehemiah did not shrug off the news. He sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed for days.

His prayer is a model. He began with worship, calling God great and awesome, the God who keeps covenant and loving kindness. He confessed sin, including his own. He pleaded God's own promise in the law of Moses to gather His scattered people. Only then did he ask for something specific: success and mercy in the sight of the king.

Show What You Know

  1. What position did Nehemiah hold?

  2. What did the men report about the survivors?

  3. How did Nehemiah respond to the news?

  4. How did his prayer begin?

  5. What promise did he remind God of?

Crossword

53421

Across

  1. I sat down and ____
  2. Now I was cup ____ to the king
  3. The ____ of Jerusalem is also broken down

Down

  1. Nehemiah fasted and did this before God.
  2. God keeps this promise with His people.

Think About It

  1. Nehemiah's prayer moved from worship to confession to God's promises to a request. How could you use that pattern in your own prayers?

  2. Nehemiah was safe in a palace, yet he grieved for his people far away. Whose needs could God be asking you to care about and pray for?

Memory Verse

“Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.

Nehemiah 1:10 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for hearing my prayers. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What does Nehemiah teach us about praying first?
  • How can you pray for people who are in trouble?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.