Due Diligence

Nehemiah 9:1 CSB

On the twenty-fourth day of this month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting, wearing sackcloth, and had put dust on their heads.

INTRO—

PREVIOUSLY on the COMEBACK…

Nehemiah 8.1-2 “all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding.”

Nehemiah 8.10 “Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

Nehemiah 8.14-15 “They found written in the law how the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should dwell in shelters during the festival of the seventh month. So they proclaimed and spread this news throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make shelters, just as it is written.””

DUE DILIGENCE

The original meaning (devoid of legal or business contexts) = THE REQUIRED (requisite, necessary) EFFORT

In Nehemiah 9, we see that for revitalization, renewal, refocus…we have the following necessary, required responses to our Lord’s call to us as his people, his church…

Penitence, Praise, & Purpose

PENITENCE [Nehemiah 9.1-5]

Penitence = sorrow for sins; repentance

Nehemiah 9.2 “Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.”

“Confessed their sins” — we must seek God and ask him to show us our sins

Psalm 139.23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”

“Confessed…the iniquities of their ancestors”

Nehemiah 1.6 “let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned.”

Why do this? How can this be done? Of what use is penitence for the sins of our forefathers? [I mean…I’m not guilty of their sin, etc.]

I believe we benefit in at least three ways from corporate repentance (both past and present):

Identification — we acknowledge that we are sinners, just like our parents, and their parents, and their parents… . [and that we may very well have done just as they did in the specific situation in focus]

Expressing Regret — In this sense regret is “to view or think of any action with dissatisfaction, especially because of unwelcome consequences (or results).” [Like a teacher expressing to a student who has been wronged by the school… “I am sorry that we have done this to you.” (even if the teacher has been an advocate for justice for the student).]

Public Disavowal — A means by which God’s people say, “That’s not who we are. It’s who we were (or have been—even recently), but it’s not who we are now (or who we are choosing to pursue becoming).” [like the SBC…in 2019, a time of repentance and lament over the issue of sexual abuse in our midst; the challenge now is: Matthew 3.8 “Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.”]

“How many times must we do this?” [regarding either current sins or past sins with which we are confronted as we pursue revitalization, renewal]

“What is our goal?” [specific example pertaining to our community: As we are conducting interviews of our neighbors, they say, “Well, that’s cool and all, I guess, but 17 years ago your church…; 8 years ago your church...”…Our first words simply cannot be, “well, I wasn’t here back then, so…; or although I was here, I never...” …instead…I believe we must be that teacher, “I am so sorry that we did that to you. We are working to not be that kind of church...”.]

PRAISE [Nehemiah 9.6-37]

Nehemiah 9.5 “Then the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up. Blessed be the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting.” Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.” [repentance…led to praise to the only one able, worthy to restore the people of God in Nehemiah’s—& our—day!]

God is the one to whom we must turn! He is worthy because...

Creation [9.5b-6]— “You, Lord, are the only God.”

Commitment (Covenant) [9.7-8]— Establisher of the covenant relationship with Israel [through Abraham]; THE Righteous Promise Keeper.

Rescue [9.9-12]— You have saved (rescued) us [Israel] before (from Egypt).

Commands [9.13-15]— You have provided what sustains & strengthens us…primarily the truth you have established (ordinances, instructions, statutes, commands), & physical sustenance in one case.

Steadfastness [9.16-21; key v. of ch. 9 = 17]— “But our ancestors acted arrogantly”; God did…God did…even though his people were unfaithful.

Nehemiah 9.17 “They refused to listen and did not remember your wonders you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love, and you did not abandon them.”

Goodness [9.22-25]— God blessed…bringing his people into the Promised Land.

Past Grace & Mercy Shown [9.26-31]— Through the times of the Judges and the Exile and returns…God demonstrated his grace & mercy to them–repeatedly.

…THEREFORE…

Present Grace & Mercy Sought [9.32-37]— “So now, our God—”; Now (in Nehemiah’s day) God’s people were seeking God’s grace & mercy for their restoration and renewal as the wall had also been rebuilt.

PURPOSE [Nehemiah 9.38…& all ch. 9]

Purpose is introduced here at the end of chapter 9 and more fully discussed as we get into chapter 10. [next week]

Nehemiah 9.38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”

CONCL—

Nehemiah 9.38 “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document containing the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.” …

Covenant Commitment

[we most commonly hear that mentioned at weddings…AND YET, the same is true of our relationship with Jesus…AND, our relationship with one another under the lordship of Jesus.]

…before a watching world whom we seek to influence with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Nehemiah 9:37 CSB

Its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have set over us, because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.