Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah 9:1

9:1-3 After the feast the people assembled for a great day of national confession. They separated themselves from the foreigners in their midst and humbled themselves before the LORD. With fasting and mourning, they . . . read the Scriptures for three hours. Then for three more hours, they confessed and worshiped. Confession is the road to revival. 9:4-38 Afterward the Levites mentioned in verses 4 and 5 led the people in a great prayer of confession (vv. 6-37) and dedication (v. 38). Some think Ezra led the prayer, although his name is not specifically mentioned. It is one of the longest prayer in the Bible, and its roots go deep into sacred history. The overriding theme of the prayer is God’s faithfulness despite Israel’s waywardness. The prayer can be outlined as follows: creation (v. 6); the call of Abraham and the covenant God made . . . with him (vv. 7, 8); the exodus from Egypt (vv. 9-12); the giving of the law at Mount Sinai (vv. 13, 14); God’s miraculous provision during the wilderness journey (v. 15); Israel’s frequent rebellions in the wilderness contrasted with God’s unfailing kindness (vv. 16-21); the conquest of Canaan (vv. 22-25); the era of the judges (vv. 26-28); unheeded warnings and ultimate captivity (vv. 29-31); appeal for forgiveness and deliverance from the consequences of the captivity (vv. 32-37); the people’s desire to make a . . . covenant with God (v. 38). Another way to outline the prayer is to follow its progress through the books of the Bible: vv. 6-8, Genesis; vv. 9-13, Exodus; v. 14, Leviticus; vv. 15-20, Numbers (except v. 18); vv. 21-23, Numbers and Deuteronomy; vv. 24, 25, Joshua; vv. 26-29, Judges; vv. 30-37, 1 Samuel through 2 Chronicles. That is biblical praying! Events are seen from God’s point of view. His faithfulness is acknowledged throughout, and mercy and grace are recognized as the only foundation upon which the nation can stand. In many ways the last verse (38) is the most significant part of the prayer. The Jews realized that the problem was with them, not with the Lord, and they determined to do something about it (see chap. 10 for the details of the covenant). Prayer and confession, important as they are, are no substitutes for obedience.