God’s Guiding Word: Prayer
Introduction
Nehemiah 9:26–38: Today’s reading continues the people’s prayer of confession. It includes a summary of the people’s disobedience and their subsequent suffering, God’s mercy in sending them leaders and prophets, and concludes with the people agreeing to keep God’s Law.
Scripture Reading
26 “But your people rebelled and disobeyed you;
they turned their backs on your Law.
They killed the prophets who warned them,
who told them to turn back to you.
They insulted you time after time,
27 so you let their enemies conquer and rule them.
In their trouble they called to you for help,
and you answered them from heaven.
In your great mercy you sent them leaders
who rescued them from their foes.
28 When peace returned, they sinned again,
and again you let their enemies conquer them.
Yet when they repented and asked you to save them,
in heaven you heard, and time after time
you rescued them in your great mercy.
29 You warned them to obey your teachings,
but in pride they rejected your laws,
although keeping your Law is the way to life.
Hard-headed and stubborn, they refused to obey.
30 Year after year you patiently warned them.
You inspired your prophets to speak,
but your people were deaf,
so you let them be conquered by other nations.
31 And yet, because your mercy is great,
you did not forsake or destroy them.
You are a gracious and merciful God!
32 “O God, our God, how great you are!
How terrifying, how powerful!
You faithfully keep your covenant promises.
From the time when Assyrian kings oppressed us,
even till now, how much we have suffered!
Our kings, our leaders, our priests and prophets,
our ancestors, and all our people have suffered.
Remember how much we have suffered!
33 You have done right to punish us;
you have been faithful, even though we have sinned.
34 Our ancestors, our kings, leaders, and priests
have not kept your Law.
They did not listen to your commands and warnings.
35 With your blessing, kings ruled your people
when they lived in the broad, fertile land you gave them;
but they failed to turn from sin and serve you.
36 And now we are slaves in the land that you gave us,
this fertile land which gives us food.
37 What the land produces goes to the kings
that you put over us because we sinned.
They do as they please with us and our livestock,
and we are in deep distress!”
38 Because of all that has happened, we, the people of Israel, hereby make a solemn written agreement, and our leaders, our Levites, and our priests put their seals to it.
Today’s Key Verse: Nehemiah 9:31b, 32a
“You are a gracious and merciful God! O God, our God, how great you are!”
Reflect
In what ways were the people rebellious and disobedient? In what ways was God merciful? In what ways have you experienced God’s mercy?
Pray
Lord God, how great you are! You are gracious and merciful. You faithfully keep your covenant promises. Order my steps this day, and may my words and actions this day be in accord with your will. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Nehemiah 10:28–39: The people of Israel take an oath to live according to God’s Law.