Crying out because we’ve sinned
Nehemiah 9:1-37
Introduction
- Nehemiah is a great study of leadership; shows faithful obedience to God
- Last week we discussed a great celebration happening in the city
-- The people gather to have the Law read; and they are convicted of their sin
-- However, this is a time of celebration; to rejoice in what God has done
- Following the time of celebration, comes a time of mourning and repentance
-- This will be our focus today; understanding their hearts and minds before God
-- For you and I, this is a tremendous example of humility before a Sovereign Lord
- (It’s a little longer read today … bear with me) -- Read Nehemiah 9:1-37
- Pray
∆ Point 1 – A Time of Mourning
- Following the worship and celebration, is a time to ensure hearts are in check
-- Sackcloth was a dark, course material associated with sorrow/mourning (v2)
-- Throwing dust on their head is a sign of humility; not focused on appearance
-- Is a sign of sorrow for wrongs they have committed; their conviction on display
- Today we no longer wear sackcloth and ash, but we can still mourn and repent
-- These citizens stood and read the book of Law for approx. 6 hours (v3)
-- During this time, would’ve have been a great opportunity to repent of sin
- No different than when we experience God in a collective worship
-- Sometimes there are opportunities to shout/praise … others to mourn/repent
-- How do we know the difference? Listening to God’s Spirit as He directs us
- They would’ve taken turns reading the Law, over the course of about 6 hours (v3)
-- Then, they spent another 6 hours in confession and prayer before a Holy God
- Consider this for a moment … 12 hours spent in sorrow/repentance for sin
-- 6 hours spent reading God’s word and contemplating what it means to you
-- 6 hours in prayer before God because you value nothing more than Him
-- APP: It’s a definite challenge for you and me: check our prayer motive
- As the priests read the Law (v5), the people were called to stand and praise God
-- This praise, this outcry of worship, is where we need to focus today
- TRANS: Let’s explore their specific cries and worship of God
∆ Point 2
- S: He is Sovereign (v5-6)
-- The people begin to praise God for all that He has done
-- They confess His worthiness and proclaim that even His name is magnificent
-- Even more, they leave no doubt for all that He has done (made the …)
-- Their exclamation that God gave life to everything ought to be very encouraging
- S: He is righteous and true (v7-8)
-- It is God who initiated the relationship (first with Adam, then Abram, then US)
-- He brought them out of captivity and set them in a place where they could live
-- God provided them with all they need; to restore His people to Himself
-- Because He is righteous, the people can count on His promise to be kept
- S: He is Savior and Deliverer (v9-12)
-- God is not an absentee landlord from His creation (many treat him like this)
-- He responded to their slavery by bringing them from captivity; grace filled
-- Even in the wilderness, He led His people to safety (pillar of fire & a cloud)
-- He made a name for Himself; a name that has stood throughout all time
-- Because of His namesake, He is the rescuer that we all require (due to sin)
- S: He is the provider (v13-21)
-- Look at the confession of things that God has done, note who initiates this
-- Not only did God provide for their spiritual needs; but physical needs also
-- What they are confessing is God’s grace; His mercy; His supply; His power
-- God’s compassion is on display (v18) EVEN after they created another “god”
-- He is confessed as being trustworthy and faithful to their needs/desires
- S: They have an inheritance (v22-25)
-- Because of God, they were able to enter a land promised to them
-- Even each victory they experienced was because God had ordained it
-- Throughout 40 years of wandering, even their numbers increased (v23)
-- What they have is because God ordained it; even when they disobeyed
-- Re: Moses did not get to enter the land promised because of disobedience
--- They struck the rock with a horrible, angry attitude instead of speaking to it
-- However, God was still compassionate and supplied for them; always does
- “I love, Bro TJ” Here’s our challenge to consider:
-- Why is it that we fail to praise God for what we have?
-- Has He not provided you even the air in your lungs to sustain your life?
-- How is it that we cannot even spend 10 minutes in prayer to honor Him?
- TRANS: When we see a prayer like this, it ought to cut AND challenge us!
∆ Point 3 – The Cycles of History (26-31)
- The people move from God’s praises, to confessing their own disobedience
• they killed your prophets;
• who had warned them in order to turn them back to you;
• they committed awful blasphemies
-- It is in this confession that we can see our cycle of sin as well
-- We pray for forgiveness; we sin; we pray for forgiveness; we sin; etc.
- IMP: In their confession, they accept responsibility for their punishment
-- God turned them over to their enemies to be infiltrated and/or defeated
- However, even though they sinned again and again; God still loved them
-- They still retained an advocate in Heaven, someone was still for them
-- HUGE: We too retain the same advocate; ours is named Jesus Christ
- But notice, in each layer of the prayer, their sins become worse and worse
-- It’s like they would not learn from the previous time, and sinned harder
-- Re-read verse 28 and 29
- But still, God was patient with them (v30) and again forgave their sins
-- APP: God’s grace becomes more and more abundant even in their sin
-- We also have this today: Romans 5:20, “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more”
- IMP: In their disobedience, in their rebellion, there was still hope for them:
-- v31: “But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.”
-- Therefore, their plea for this time is very specific …
∆ Big Idea– What is their current prayer (32-37)
- The Israelite's realized who God is: He is merciful and forgiving; keeps covenant
-- Even in the face of all that has happened, God has been consistent (v33)
-- IMP: He is just & faithful, and we are the ones who were wrong in our sin
- APP: Very important note when we want to blame God for His discipline
-- Even their leaders, kings did not follow the Law; and they deserve judgment
- So what they do is all that you and I can do now as well (v36-37)
-- While still under the pressure of their current situation, God is still faithful
-- Yet, because of how we’ve acted, we are in this mess … deservedly so
- The Israelite's were under the oppression of a pagan world; just as we are
-- They are under great distress; just as we could say we are as well
- But, would we be so bold as to confess whose fault it is?
-- Would we cry out to God to confess that we have sinned and He is just?
-- Could we admit that perhaps the issues we have today our own doing?
- Turn to Galatians 6 (we’ve already studied this) – read v7-9
-- FACT: We are harvesting (reaping) today what we planted yesterday
-- Want good things tomorrow? Plant better things today than yesterday!
-- RE: It takes a while to undo sin; to harvest good crops (field and life)
- Sometimes it is appropriate to cry out as a community for God’s mercy
-- Notice that the crying out brings them together; it restores their focus
- The Israelite's knew enough to cry out to God for mercy … can’t we?
- Pray
