Nehemiah: Rebuilding A Community
The Penitence
Nehemiah 9:1-38
The Penitence (v. 1- 5)
- Another gathering after the Feast of the Tabernacles.
- This takes place 2 days after the feast
- Transition from time of rejoicing to repentance
- As in chapter 8, this is led by the people
- Fasting
- Wearing sackcloth *
- Dust on their heads
- Separated themselves from foreigners
- Covenant between God and Israel
- Group confession and acknowledged sins of their forefathers.
- Stood and read from the Book of the Law
- 3 hours of reading
- 3 hours of confession and worshiping
The Retelling (v. 6-31)
- The prayer begins with recognizing who God Is
- He is the everlasting
- He is the author of creation
- They recount the story of the Israelites
- God chose Abram/Abraham
- God made a covenant and kept his word
- Heard the cry of the people in Egypt
- Exodus: Theme of the Old Testament
- God gives the people the law (v. 13)
- They recognize them as just and right
- Not negative but “how to” for Godly living
- God meets their physical need
- But, they turn their backs on God
- Arrogant and stiff necked
- Appoint their own leader
- Made idols to worship instead of God
- God never left them: Compassion
The Response (v. 32-38)
- They understood why they were where they were
- It was their sin that got them in captivity
- It was their rejection of God
- He always took them back according to his covenant with them
- They took an oath
So What?
- Do we recognize that it is our choices and behavior that separates us from God?
- He never leaves us
- Does the past give us reason to give him praise or and excuse to blame him for the tough spots?
- In a hurting community desperate for hope, what should this mean to the church?
Meditation Verse: Nehemiah 9:33