The people are in trouble and disgrace because the walls of the city is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire. Nehemiah will intercede but where will the help come from?
He calls on God, calling Him the One who keeps covenant. The problem is that he himself, as well as those he is interceding on behalf of, has not kept covenant with Him. Nehemiah reminds God, that, for the sake of His own Name, He promised to return them from all the places where He had them scattered to because of their covenant breaking disobedience, to a restored city which carries His name.
And so, all Nehemiah can ask for is that God would move King Artaxerxes to give him favor when he enters his presence on behalf of the people. Right here is the real hope for cities in ruin when Nehemiah says: I was cupbearer to the King.
In the future, God would send another “cupbearer” His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus however would not receive favor in the presence of God, in fact, God would forsake him. Jesus would not bear a cup and live. Jesus would drink a cup filled with the wrath of God, and die. Jesus would do so willingly so that disobedient and rebellious people could be restored to a city which carries the name of this covenant keeping God.