And commanded them precepts, statutes and laws,
By the hand of Moses Your servant.
And bbrought them water out of the rock for their thirst,
And told them to cgo in to possess the land
Which You had1 sworn to give them.
bHardened1 their necks,
And did not heed Your commandments.
And1 athey were not mindful of Your wonders
That You did among them.
But they hardened their necks,
And in their rebellion
They appointed ba leader
To return to their bondage.
But You are God,
Ready to pardon,
cGracious and merciful,
Slow to anger,
Abundant in kindness,
And did not forsake them.
And said, ‘This is your god
That brought you up out of Egypt,’
And worked great provocations,
You did not forsake them in the wilderness.
The bpillar 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.
And did not withhold Your bmanna from their mouth,
And gave them cwater for their thirst.
They lacked nothing;
Their bclothes did not wear out
And their feet did not swell.
| << Nehemiah 9:15 | Nehemiah 9:17 >> |
Nehemiah 9:1-38
A solemn fast. (1-3) Prayer and confession of sin. (4-38)
Verses 1-3 The word will direct and quicken prayer, for by it the Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer. The careful study of God's word will more and more discover to us our own sinfulness, and the plenteousness of his salvation; thus it calls us to mourn for sin, and to rejoice in him. Every discovery of the truth of God, should render us more unwearied in attendance on his sacred word, and on his worship.
Verses 4-38 The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our land, and our own history. Let us recollect our advantages from childhood, and ask what were our first returns? Let us frequently do so, that we may be kept humble, thankful, and watchful. Let all remember that pride and obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. But it is often as hard to persuade the broken-hearted to hope, as formerly it was to bring them to fear. Is this thy case? Behold this sweet promise, A God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon.
| << Nehemiah 9:15 | Nehemiah 9:17 >> |
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