Nehemiah 9
Nehemiah 9 is a powerful chapter of confession and prayer. Following the completion of the wall, the Israelites gather to repent for the sins of their ancestors and acknowledge God’s goodness and faithfulness despite their failures. This chapter highlights the people's renewed commitment to follow God’s law.
Nehemiah 9:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads.
2 Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.
3 And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.
4 Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the Lord their God.
5 And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said: “Stand up and bless the Lord your God Forever and ever! Blessed be Your glorious name, Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
The Israelites gather in an act of repentance, humbling themselves with fasting, sackcloth, and dust, symbols of mourning and contrition. They separate from foreigners to focus on their covenant relationship with God and confess both their sins and those of their ancestors. The reading of the Law and confession lasts for several hours, demonstrating their deep desire for spiritual renewal. The Levites lead the people in worship, calling them to bless God’s name, acknowledging His supreme holiness and glory.
Nehemiah 9:6 (NKJV)
6 You alone are the Lord; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.
This verse acknowledges God as the Creator of the universe, both the heavens and the earth, and everything in them. It declares His sustaining power over all creation, and that the angelic host of heaven worships Him. This recognition of God’s sovereignty over all creation serves as the foundation for the people’s worship and repentance.
Nehemiah 9:7-8 (NKJV)
7 “You are the Lord God, Who chose Abram, And brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, And gave him the name Abraham;
8 You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give the land of the Canaanites, The Hittites, the Amorites, The Perizzites, the Jebusites, And the Girgashites— To give it to his descendants. You have performed Your words, For You are righteous.
The prayer reflects on God's covenant with Abraham, recognizing how He chose Abraham for a special relationship and promised to give the land of Canaan to his descendants. God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant despite human unfaithfulness is emphasized, acknowledging that God always fulfills His promises because of His righteousness.
Nehemiah 9:9-11 (NKJV)
9 “You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea.
10 You showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants, And against all the people of his land. For You knew that they acted proudly against them. So You made a name for Yourself, as it is this day.
11 And You divided the sea before them, So that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; And their persecutors You threw into the deep, As a stone into the mighty waters.
The people recount God’s mighty acts of deliverance, particularly in Egypt. God saw their suffering and intervened with miraculous signs, showing His power over Pharaoh and the Egyptian empire. His deliverance at the Red Sea, where He parted the waters for the Israelites and destroyed their enemies, became a defining moment that made His name great among the nations.
Nehemiah 9:12-15 (NKJV)
12 Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, And by night with a pillar of fire, To give them light on the road Which they should travel.
13 You came down also on Mount Sinai, And spoke with them from heaven, And gave them just ordinances and true laws, Good statutes and commandments.
14 You made known to them Your holy Sabbath, And commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, By the hand of Moses Your servant.
15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst, And told them to go in to possess the land Which You had sworn to give them.
The prayer recalls God’s continued guidance through the wilderness. He provided a pillar of cloud and fire, laws on Mount Sinai, the Sabbath, manna, and water. Despite the Israelites' rebellion, God remained faithful, sustaining them and guiding them toward the promised land. This recounting of God's care underscores His mercy and patience.
Nehemiah 9:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “But they and our fathers acted proudly, Hardened their necks, And did not heed Your commandments.
17 They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.
The prayer shifts to the people's disobedience, recognizing their pride and stubbornness. Despite witnessing God’s wonders, they often refused to obey and even sought to return to Egypt. However, God’s character is one of grace and mercy. He was ready to forgive and did not abandon them, showing His abundant kindness and patience.
Nehemiah 9:18-21 (NKJV)
18 “Even when they made a molded calf for themselves, And said, ‘This is your god That brought you up out of Egypt,’ And worked great provocations,
19 Yet in Your manifold mercies You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, To lead them on the road; Nor the pillar of fire by night, To show them light, And the way they should go.
20 You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth, And gave them water for their thirst.
21 Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out And their feet did not swell.
Despite the Israelites' idolatry, notably the making of the golden calf, God did not abandon them. His mercy continued as He guided them with the cloud and fire, provided manna and water, and sustained them for 40 years in the wilderness. God’s Spirit instructed them, and their physical needs were miraculously met throughout their journey.
Nehemiah 9:22-25 (NKJV)
22 “Moreover You gave them kingdoms and nations, And divided them into districts. So they took possession of the land of Sihon, The land of the king of Heshbon, And the land of Og king of Bashan.
23 You also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, And brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers To go in and possess.
24 So the people went in And possessed the land; You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, The Canaanites, And gave them into their hands, With their kings And the people of the land, That they might do with them as they wished.
25 And they took strong cities and a rich land, And possessed houses full of all goods, Cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, And fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and grew fat, And delighted themselves in Your great goodness.
God gave the Israelites victory over various kingdoms, including Sihon and Og, and helped them settle in the promised land. He fulfilled His promise by multiplying their descendants and giving them possession of Canaan. They inherited cities, homes, vineyards, and groves they did not build, experiencing God's abundant blessings. However, this prosperity eventually led to complacency as they indulged in His goodness without recognizing their dependence on Him.
Nehemiah 9:26-27 (NKJV)
26 “Nevertheless they were disobedient And rebelled against You, Cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets, who testified against them To turn them to Yourself; And they worked great provocations.
27 Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies, Who oppressed them; And in the time of their trouble, When they cried to You, You heard from heaven; And according to Your abundant mercies You gave them deliverers who saved them From the hand of their enemies.
The people recount how Israel's rebellion continued after entering the land. Despite God's blessings, they rejected His law and even killed His prophets. As a result, God allowed them to fall into the hands of their enemies. Yet, when they cried out in distress, God, in His mercy, raised up deliverers, such as the judges, to rescue them from oppression.
Nehemiah 9:28-31 (NKJV)
28 “But after they had rest, They again did evil before You. Therefore You left them in the hand of their enemies, So that they had dominion over them; Yet when they returned and cried out to You, You heard from heaven; And many times You delivered them according to Your mercies,
29 And testified against them, That You might bring them back to Your law. Yet they acted proudly, And did not heed Your commandments, But sinned against Your judgments, ‘Which if a man does, he shall live by them.’ And they shrugged their shoulders, Stiffened their necks, And would not hear.
30 Yet for many years You had patience with them, And testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not listen; Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
31 Nevertheless in Your great mercy You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them; For You are God, gracious and merciful.
Despite God's repeated acts of deliverance, Israel continued to fall back into sin. Each time, God allowed their enemies to dominate them as a consequence, but when they repented, He would deliver them again. His constant patience and mercy are highlighted, as He continued to send prophets to call them back. Even when Israel ignored these warnings, God did not completely forsake them, showing His unfailing mercy.
Nehemiah 9:32-35 (NKJV)
32 “Now therefore, our God, The great, the mighty, and awesome God, Who keeps covenant and mercy: Do not let all the trouble seem small before You That has come upon us, Our kings and our princes, Our priests and our prophets, Our fathers and on all Your people, From the days of the kings of Assyria until this day.
33 However You are just in all that has befallen us; For You have dealt faithfully, But we have done wickedly.
34 Neither our kings nor our princes, Our priests nor our fathers, Have kept Your law, Nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies, With which You testified against them.
35 For they have not served You in their kingdom, Or in the many good things that You gave them, Or in the large and rich land which You set before them; Nor did they turn from their wicked works.
The people acknowledge God's faithfulness in contrast to their own sinfulness. They confess that the trials and hardships they have experienced, from the time of the Assyrian captivity to the present, are just consequences of their disobedience. Their kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors all failed to follow God's laws, even in times of prosperity. This admission is part of their repentance, recognizing their failure to serve God faithfully.
Nehemiah 9:36-37 (NKJV)
36 “Here we are, servants today! And the land that You gave to our fathers, To eat its fruit and its bounty, Here we are, servants in it!
37 And it yields much increase to the kings You have set over us, Because of our sins; Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle At their pleasure; And we are in great distress.
The prayer concludes with the people acknowledging their current state of oppression. Although they are back in the land God promised their ancestors, they live under the rule of foreign kings, paying tribute from the land’s bounty. Their servitude and distress are seen as the result of their sins, further emphasizing their need for God's mercy and guidance.
Nehemiah 9:38 (NKJV)
38 “And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.”
In response to their confession and recognition of God’s faithfulness, the Israelites commit to renewing their covenant with God. They formalize this commitment by writing it down and having their leaders, Levites, and priests seal the covenant as a sign of their determination to obey God's law moving forward. This marks a significant moment of spiritual renewal and dedication.