Day 27, March 23, 2007
Nehemiah 9:1-38
DON’T SKIP READING THIS SECTION.
If you read this chapter, you will have read a synopsis of all Old Testament history! If we step back and see the flow of the last few chapters, this is what we see: First there’s the completion of a project and the acknowledgement that it has been the hand of God that has brought about the completion. Second, there’s the reading of the Word, and along with that, both celebration and the recovery of practices that had been lost for generations. Now, four days into the reading of the Word, there comes this outpouring of confession. Notice that there’s confession, not only of their sins, but the sins of their fathers.
I think this is significant because none of us is born into a vacuum. All of us inherit a family context and a cultural context, both of which are powerful shaping influences in our lives. It’s vital that we both know and acknowledge these, being unafraid to face and confess the sins of our fathers, in order that we might be freed from replicating the same errors.
The errors that plague Israel seem to be universal. The general pattern of God’s dealings with his people is replicated several times in this chapter: First, a recollection of God’s faithfulness. Then, a reminder of the faithless response of His people (vs16-18; 26,28). The recollection ends with the acknowledgment that God has been both merciful and just in all His dealings with His people. I find it interesting to see from this bird’s eye view, that Israel resorts to whining and idolatry in only two different kinds of circumstances: when things are easy…and when things are hard. Other than those kinds of times, they’re just fine!
“Confess your sins to one another that you may be healed” is the way we see this written in the New Testament. There’s this admonishment, given us for our own health, that we come clean – with each other, and with God. We’ve nothing to hide since God already knows the depth of our sin. But ignoring our sin, justifying our sin, has the effect of driving us deeper into pits of self-destructive patterns. This public confession is quite powerful, reminding us that the most powerful confessions aren’t just between ‘me and God’ but are best brought out into the open with others, especially those that walk closely with us through life. With whom do you share your confessions and struggles? If you’ve nobody, ask God to lead you to someone. It’s good to live what B. Schlink calls, “A lifestyle of repentance.”
God of justice and forgiveness…Give us hearts that are willing to confess. We stand with those who have gone before us, and acknowledge that we too are tempted to complacency and idolatry, both when things are difficult and when things are easy. And, as well, I bring to you the particular sins of ___ that are present in the moment. Grant me not only forgiveness, but deliverance from the power of this sin. In your great name I pray, Amen
posted by Richard Dahlstrom @ 4:38 PM
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