Nehemiah 9:1 – 10:39

December 21, 2010

Confession. They had the desire to know what was in God's teaching. Once they heard—they understood. Once they understood—they obeyed. And when they obeyed—they confessed. The people stood up and prayed to God. They started their prayer with praise to God for WHO He was (is). They recounted all God had done for them in the past. They took full responsibility for the sins they and their forefathers committed. They confessed they were unworthy, but they also realized that God had been (and is) a covenant keeping, kind, and merciful God.

After confession comes change. It's not enough to realize you've done wrong and to seek forgiveness—change must occur. Genesis 17:2-8 lists the "I will's" of God and His covenant promises to Abraham. Now the Israelites made a covenant with God. They made an oath and promised to keep it, even attaching a curse to it so they would be sure to follow through with their promises of "we will."

They promised to:

• Follow the Teachings of God and obey all the commands, rules, and laws of God.
• Keep themselves separate from the world.
• Keep the commands of service to the temple.
• Keep the commands of giving the first of everything to God.
• Not ignore the Temple of God.

From Peace with God by Billy Graham:

"You will want to do only His will. You are utterly and completely devoted to Him. There is a new self determination, inclination, disposition, a new principle of living, new choices. You seek to glorify God."  

Addendum:  12/26/14 ~  In my Bible I have highlighted the entire people's prayer found in Nehemiah 9:5b–37.

Blessed be YOUR name...
YOU are the only LORD...
YOU made the heavens...
YOU made the earth....
YOU give life...
YOU are the LORD...
YOU made an agreement...
YOU have kept YOUR promises...
YOU do what is right...
YOU saw...
YOU heard...
YOU did signs and miracles...
YOU knew how proud they were...
YOU became famous...
YOU divided the sea...
YOU threw the people chasing them in the deep water...
YOU led the way...
YOU came down...
YOU gave them fair rules...
YOU told them...
YOU gave them bread...
YOU gave them directions...

     But our ancestors were proud and stubborn...

     They refused to listen...

     They forgot the miracles...

     They became stubborn and turned against YOU...    

YOU are a forgiving God...

YOU are kind and full of mercy...

YOU do not become angry quickly...

YOU have great love...

YOU did not leave them...

     Our ancestors made their own gods...

     They spoke against YOU...

YOU have great mercy...

YOU did not leave them...

YOU gave YOUR good Spirit to teach them...

YOU gave them manna to eat and water to drink...

YOU took care of them...

YOU gave them kingdoms and nations...

YOU gave them more land...

YOU made their children as many as the stars in the sky...

YOU brought them into the land...

YOU handed over the people in the land...

     They enjoyed YOUR great goodness...

     But they were disobedient...

     They turned against YOU...

     They ignored YOUR teachings...

YOUR prophets warned them to come back to YOU...

     But they killed those prophets...

     They spoke against YOU...

YOU handed them over to their enemies..

     Their enemies treated them badly...

     They cried out to YOU...

YOU heard from heaven...

YOU had great mercy...

YOU provided a way...

     But as soon as they had rest they again did what was evil...    

YOU left them to their enemies...

     When they cried out to YOU...

YOU heard from heaven...

Because of YOUR mercy...
YOU saved them again and again...

YOU warned them to return to YOUR teachings...

     But they were proud...

     They did not obey YOUR commands...

     They sinned against YOUR laws...

     They were stubborn, unwilling, and disobedient...

YOU were patient...

YOU warned them...

     But they did not pay attention...    

YOU handed them over to others...

YOUR mercy is great...

YOU did not destroy them or leave them...

YOU are a kind and merciful God...

YOU are the great and mighty and wonderful God...

YOU keep YOUR agreement of love...

     Do not let our trouble seem unimportant to you...

YOU have been fair in everything...

YOU have been loyal...

     We have failed YOU...

YOU have never failed us...

     We promise to obey and follow YOUR commands...

     We will keep the agreements we made with YOU...

     We will honor YOU...

What an excellent example of how we all should pray.

• Praise 
• Understanding
• Obedience
• Confession 
• Praise.   

It's all about YOU Jesus. It's all about YOU. Psalm 8:1 - "Oh LORD, our Lord. How majestic is YOUR name in all the earth.."


Next Entry: Nehemiah 11:1 – 13:31