Nehemiah 9:32-38, Rebellion and Mercy! (2)

Let’s conclude Israel’s confession of their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

o   v26-29: In spite of God’s goodness to Israel, they continued to disobey and rebel.  When they were in the land there was a pattern that developed, commonly called the “cycle of apostacy.”  God would bless Israel; Israel would become complacent and proud and trust the blessings rather than the One who blessed them; this inevitably led to idolatry and a blending in with the nations around them; then God would judge them, allowing those nations to rule them harshly; finally they would be in such pain they would cry out to the Lord, seeking forgiveness; God, in mercy would respond and the blessing of the LORD would return, only to lead again to Israel’s pride, etc.

§  Did you note in v29, “which if a man does, he shall live by them” (a quote from Lev. 18:5, quoted by Paul in Romans and Galatians)?

o   v30-31: This went on and on, for years.  Verse 31 is important: “Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them.”  The covenant with Abraham, where this history started, was still God’s Word and He never denied it (and never will).

·       v32-38: Having reviewed Israel’s history, we now come to the immediate situation.  The problem began with the Assyrian invasion and dispersion of the northern 10 Tribes.  Then Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians (v32).  Several thoughts should not be overlooked:

o   v32: “Do not let all the trouble seem small before You that has come upon us.”  This is a plea for God’s compassion.  Even though …

o   v33-35: “You are just in all that has befallen us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have done wickedly.”  This must be part of any confession of sin.  As David put it, “Against You, and You only, have I sinned” (Ps. 51:4).  The issue with our sin is that it dishonors God.  Any excuses or ‘blaming of others’ is an attempt to lessen our culpability.  This includes any attempt to lay blame on God.  If we have not come to the point of declaring His righteousness, then we have not finished our struggle with sin.  Go back to Nehemiah’s prayer of confession in chapter 1: “Both my father’s house and I have sinned.  We have acted very corruptly against You” (1:6-7). 

o   v36-37: This is life in “the times of the Gentiles.”  Israel lived in the land God promised to give to them; yet they were servants in that land!  The land was producing good crops, indicating God’s blessing; yet most of the profit was going to make the Medo-Persian kings wealthy.  In this setting it was clear that there were some issues that needed to be addressed.  This was not a covenant to replace, say, the Book of the Law (Deuteronomy).  It was intended to help them obey the Law by addressing certain hot-button issues which we will look at in our next post.