Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
NEHEMIAH
Chapter 9
Summary Commentary
Two days following the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles, the people assembled themselves together in a further demonstration of the revival which was first shown 24 days earlier when they had asked Ezra to read the book of the Law of Moses to them. This time they came fasting, clothed with sackcloth and with dirt on their heads, symbolic of deep humility and sorrow for sin. The activities of this assembly included reading from "the book of the Law of the LORD" for one-fourth of the day and of confessing "their sins and the iniquities of their fathers" and of worshiping "the LORD their God" another fourth of the day.
Then the Levites called upon the people to "stand up and bless the LORD your God" after which, in a lengthy prayer, they rehearsed before God all His goodness to Israel beginning with the time He chose Abram and continuing with His deliverance of them from Egypt, His leading them through the wilderness, His giving to them the lands of Sihon and Og on the East of Jordan and the land of Canaan on the West. Dispersed among these things in the prayer were confessions of the disobedience shown by the people along the way tempered by the readiness of God to forgive because He is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love," and the fact He "did not forsake them."
The prayer continues with a rehearsal of the days of the Judges when God first delivered them into the hands of their enemies because of their rebellion and then saved them "according to (His) great mercies" when they repented and cried out to Him. Then there is a recounting of the warnings God gave through His prophets, warnings which were not heeded by the people which resulted in further chastisement but neither being destroyed nor forsaken by God.
The prayer further mentions the continued disobedience of "our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers" in spite of the "great goodness" of God "in the large and rich land" which He "set before them." Then the prayer points out the result of their sins is slavery, even in the land to which they have returned from exile, because they are still subject to the rule of foreign kings.
In view of all these things, they "make a firm covenant in writing," signed by the princes, Levites and priests, the names of whom and the substance of which are found in Chapter 10.
Revival is the renewing and restoring of God's backslidden people to close fellowship with Him. It is always accompanied, first, by confession and repentance of sins; second, by remembering the goodness and mercy of God in forgiving rather than forsaking; third, by genuine, heart-felt worship; and, finally, by commitment to obedience. If these four things are constantly in our minds and hearts, there will be no need for renewal and restoration because there will not be a falling away. Sins, if and when committed, will be immediately confessed, God's promised forgiveness (1 John 1:9) will be immediately received by faith, worship will be unbroken, and obedience will be the normal order of our everyday lives.