Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awesome God who keeps His promises and shows mercy—please don't let all the hardship that has come upon us seem small or unimportant to You. This trouble has affected our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all Your people, from the time when the Assyrian kings ruled until today.
The writer is asking God not to overlook or minimize the long history of suffering that His people have endured, acknowledging both God's greatness and their need for His attention.
📚 Historical Context
This prayer was offered during Nehemiah's time when the Jewish people had returned from Babylonian exile but were still under foreign rule and facing many difficulties. The reference to 'the time of the kings of Assyria' recalls centuries of oppression, including the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel and later the Babylonian conquest of Judah.
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