Nehemiah 9 "Amazing Grace"

Amazing Grace

Chapter 9 is a prayer that reviews the history of Israel and reveals both the majesty of God and the depravity of man.

Many prayers and speeches in the bible include a long summary of Israel’s history. The reason for this is that individuals didn’t have their own copy of the bible the way we do today.

Just like the Israelites, it's important to remember our own history to avoid repeating our mistakes so we can better serve God. Philosopher George Santayana wrote “Those who don’t remember the past are condemned to repeat or relive it.” We should learn from our mistakes to not do the same things over again.

Israel responded to God’s “great kindness”and “great goodness” with “great provocations” that resulted in “great distress”.

The church today can learn much from the experiences of Israel, if we are willing to humble ourselves and receive truth.

As we read and study this prayer, notice that it reveals the greatness of God, the goodness of God, and the Grace of God.

The greatness of God ()

The feast of tabernacles had ended, but the people lingered around to hear more of the Word of God. Feasting had turned into fasting as the Word brought conviction and people started confessing their sins.

Verse 3 - Could you imagine a church service lasting 6 plus hours today?

There was three hours pf preaching followed by three hours of praying and confessing.

Today in our fast food, microwave, Cliff-note world people would be so irritated, complaining, even getting up and walking out. But to the Jewish people in that day it was the beginning of a new life for them and their city.

God’s greatness is seen in the fact that...

He receives our worship (1-5)

True worship involves many elements working together. Elements such as hearing the scriptures, praising God, praying, confessing sin, and separating ourselves from that which displeases God.

Worship involves the Word of God, for the Word of God reveals the God of the Word.

The better we know the scriptures and respond to them the better we will know God and become more like Him.

Any worship that ignores the scriptures will not receive the blessings of God.

In the scriptures God speaks to us and in prayer and praise we speak to him.

Verse 5 - “Stand up and bless the Lord your God" is a command every true believer should want to obey because it is “exalted above all blessings and praise”.

The people also took time to confess their sins and seek the Lord’s forgiveness.

Whenever you see sin or failure in your life, immediately look by faith to Christ and seek His forgiveness; and keep on looking to Him. Focus on His perfections, not your own imperfections.

Finally, the people separated themselves from the world as they drew near to the Lord.

Separation without devotion to the Lord becomes isolation, but devotion without separation is hypocrisy.

God’s greatness is also seen in the fact that...

He is God alone (6a)

The nation of Israel was surrounded by idolatry and degrading lifestyle that was associated with pagan worship.

In his reading and explaining the law, Ezra had certainly emphasized the Ten commandments including the first two commandments that declare the uniqueness of God and the wickedness of idolatry. even today, faithful Jews still recite "The Shema” () as their declaration of faith in the one and only true God.

A third evidence of God’s greatness is the fact that...

He created the universe (6b)

“In the beginning God created the heaven and earth” () is a statement that can be applied only to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Whenever God wanted to encourage his people he would point to creation around them and remind them that he had made it all.

God’s greatness is seen in the fact of...

His providential care for His creation (6c)

He didn’t simply make everything and then abandon it to its own course.

He is involved in the affairs of his creation.

He sees when a sparrow falls ()

he hears when a raven cries out for food ()

He has the stars counted and named

he has even numbered the hairs on your head

And finally, God’s greatness is seen in the fact that...

The hosts of heaven worship Him (6d)

You and I can’t duplicate the mighty works of the angels but we can imitate their devotion to the Lord as the worship before his throne. In fact, we have more to praise him for than they do.

We have been saved by the grace of God and shall one day be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

We aren't just servants like the angels, we are children of God and will dwell with Him forever.

In our worship it is wise to begin with the greatness of God.

Sincere worship honors God in spite of circumstances or feelings or desires.

The goodness of God ()

This prayer rehearses the history of Israel, revealing God’s goodness to His people and their repeated failure to appreciate His gifts and obey His will.

The word “give” is used in one way or another at least sixteen times in this chapter. Our God is indeed a “giving God” , who delights in meeting the needs of His people.

It was an act of pure grace when God chose Abram and revealed Himself to him, for Abram was an idolater in a pagan city.

God gave Israel...

a land (8,15,35)

a law (13)

the ministry of the Spirit (20)

food and water (15,20)

delivers (27)

victory over enemies (22,24)

What more could they want?

Forming the nation (7-18)

It was an act of pure grace when God chose Abram and revealed Himself to him, for Abram was an idolater in a pagan city.

God’s covenant was the basis for all that God did with and for Abraham and his descendants. It was God purpose that all the world be blessed through Israel and he did this in the sending of his son Jesus Christ.

How did the respond

In Verses 16-18, Nehemiah tells us how the nation responded to all that God had done for them.

They refused to...

bow to His authority (hardened their necks)

listen to His Word (Hearkened not)

or obey His will

They even formed a golden calf to worship.

They even formed a golden calf to worship.

How could these people turn their backs on God after all he had done for them?

They didn’t truly love him. Their obedience was only an outward form, it didnt come from their hearts.

Leading a nation (19-22)

During their travels to the promised land God never forsook them.

He led them a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire by night.

He taught them the Word.

He provided them the necessities of life

He gave them victories over enemies

He kept every promise

Just like many of God’s people today, the Jews were shortsighted. they forgot the glorious purposes that God had in mind for the nation.

Chastening the nation (23-30)

Israel delighted themselves in God’s great goodness but they did not delight themselves in the Lord. Like the prodigal son they wanted the father’s wealth but not the father’s will.

The grace of God ()

God was good to His people when His people were not good to Him. He sent them prophets to teach them and to warn them, but the nation refused to listen.

verses 35-36

Sometimes the very blessings God has showered on us make us forget Him. We are often tempted to rely on wealth for security rather than on God. As you see what happened to the Israelites, look at your own life. Do your blessings make you thankful to God and draw you closer to him, or do they make you feel independent and forgetful of God?

He was merciful to forgive them when they cried out for help and He was long-suffering with them as they repeatedly rebelled against His Word. He could have destroyed the nation and started over again, but he graciously spared them.

In his mercy, God didn’t give them what they deserved, and in His grace, He gave them what they didn’t deserve.