Week 450 · Old Testament · about 2 minutes · 329 words
🕊️ Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 1 opens with these words: “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,” The line to keep is Nehemiah 1:5: “and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his…” Carry the word “heaven” from that verse into the rest of the day.
Nehemiah 1 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.” Nehemiah 1 opens with these words: “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,” The line to keep is Nehemiah 1:5: “and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his…” Carry the word “heaven” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is Nehemiah 1:5: “and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in Nehemiah 1? Then try this: Read “and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
“and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments:”
Nehemiah 1:5 · Nehemiah 1
Say it
Practice Nehemiah 1:5
Tap the words in order. The blanks follow the verse from left to right.
andsaid,“Ibegyou,theGodofheaven,thegreatandGod,whokeepscovenantandlovingkindnessthosewholovehimandkeephiscommandments:
Talk about it
- What happens first in Nehemiah 1?
- Read “and said, “I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving…” once more. What does it show you about God?
- Who can you tell one sentence from Nehemiah 1 before bedtime?
Prayer
Father, thank you for Nehemiah 1. Help us remember Nehemiah 1:5 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.
Parent tip
If Nehemiah 1 is long, read Nehemiah 1:5 twice and ask one of the talk-about questions. The chapter page has every verse if you want more tomorrow.
Week 450 · the whole night
🕊️ Nehemiah 1
Story, coloring page, word search, and the verse to trace.
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