Page 87 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

8. God proves His faithfulness (9:32-37)
So now, our God—the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant— do not view
lightly all the hardships that have afflicted us, our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our ancestors
33
and all Your people, from the days of the Assyrian kings until today. You are righteous concerning all
34
that has come on us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly. Our kings, leaders,
priests, and ancestors did not obey Your law or listen to Your commandments and warnings You gave them.
35 When they were in their kingdom, with Your abundant goodness You gave them, and in the spacious
and fertile land You set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways. Here we are
36
today, slaves in the land You gave our ancestors so that they could enjoy its fruit and its goodness. Here we
37
are—slaves in it! Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us, because of our sins. They rule
over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress. Nehemiah is saying in this great
confession that they are fully aware that in order to see the promise of the full restoration promised by the
prophets, they need to witness a new exodus from their new Egypt in the providence of our LORD. Thus, their
cry was, we are in great distress. 38 In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement in writing on a
sealed document [containing the names of] our leaders, Levites, and priests.

Notice verses 36 through 38 and how they describe themselves as being in great distress. Because of this
great distress, they called out for a binding agreement in writing on a sealed document [containing the names
of] our leaders, Levites, and priests to be drawn up. They are banking on God’s mercies and compassion
(verses 17,19, 27, and 28) to overflow once again. The Lord has always shown His people mercy, and they are
asking Him to do it again in their day. Here is the historical review of how God has acted in the past.

• God is Good to Israel
• Israel forgets God and Sins
• God allows Judgement to fall (Usually by Famine or the Sword)
• Israel Calls out for His Mercies and Compassions to Fall Upon Them
• God Deals With Them in His Mercy and Compassion

Ezra and Nehemiah do not come right out and say it, but that’s the case they have made in this
historical review. They want God to do it again. Therefore, if we were to closely examine our lives, we
would probably find the same historical patterns in our lives. Could we then make the same argument
to God and ask Him for the same plea? Could we begin our prayers the way we find in the next
section, which says, In view of all this, we are asking your mercies and compassion to visit us once
again?

Let’s Practice…

1. What event accompanies great revivals?

2-4. The Bible speaks of three heavens. What are they?

3. Why did God command the Israelites to remember in Deuteronomy 8:2?

85