April 27 2025 // Nehemiah 9
APPLICATION: Read & watch/listen to Nehemiah9
Nehemiah 9
3. The People Rebel vs. 16-17a
5. A Continued History of Rebellion vs. 26-31
C. S. Lewis, after the death of his wife, Joy, wrote of the despair and spiritual twilight he experienced. Part of the agony Lewis felt was the fading from his memory of her appearance. He began to forget what she looked like. He couldn’t quite recall, and it filled him with a sense of betrayal and a deep anguish of soul.
When we forget, we live as strangers.
The Old Testament is filled with recollections. The Psalms often recount Israel’s history and how God delivered them. Hebrew prayers often center on retelling the goodness of God in history. In this chapter the Levites led the people in looking back, reminding them of what God looked like—to marvel at his faithful love, his compassion and generosity. It was also a chance for them to look in the mirror.
It is a valuable practice to keep a journal, writing down decisions, prayers, and events so that you recognize the presence of God. Such remembrances keep life and our relationship with Christ accurate and alive.[1]
Digging Deeper:
The Law (9:13–14, 29, 34)
For the Jew the law was not viewed as a set of restrictive commands and regulations. Instead, they saw the law as God’s benevolent gift that set them apart from other nations and gave them life. Psalm 19:7–8 states, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” The Mosaic commands, blessings, and curses flowed out of God’s faithful mercy. “In keeping them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:11).
The Ezra era marked some of the first interpretative approaches to the law. From this time forward the scribes and Levites began comparing Scripture with Scripture and reinterpreting the text’s meaning for a current situation. From these explanations new traditions and understanding of orthodoxy developed. Eventually new “laws” were instituted. These were not part of the original law of God but were put in place by rabbis to establish a protective “fence” around the Torah.
These laws were meant to prevent people from breaking the Law of Moses. While the law prohibited work on the Sabbath, the protective laws prohibited handling a tool (a hammer, pencil, or money) without good reason, lest one forget that it was the Sabbath and perform some forbidden work. These rabbinic laws eventually became voluminous, far outweighing God’s original commands.[2]
Questions to Consider:
1. Looking back on your own life, discuss which aspects of God’s character seem most significant. Share specific ways God has been faithful and compassionate to you.
2. The Israelites constantly reviewed God’s promises to them given through Abraham. Make a list of the promises God has given us through Jesus Christ.
3. Is there any relationship between the Jews’ distress under a foreign power and the Christian’s relationship to society? If so, explain.[3]
Prayer Time:
[1] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 236–237.
[2] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 237.
[3] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 238.
Nehemiah 9
- The People Gather vs. 1 - 5
- The people prepare for worship vs. 2
- The people worship vs. 3-5
2. The People Praise God vs. 6-15
- Creator vs. 6
- Sustainer vs. 6
- Covenant maker vs. 7-8
- Deliverer vs. 9-12
- Provider vs. 13-15
3. The People Rebel vs. 16-17a
- Stiffened their necks
- Disobedient
- Slow to anger vs. 17
- Steadfast love vs. 17
- Great mercies vs. 19
- Provision vs. 20
- Land vs. 22
- Descendants vs. 23
- Success vs. 25
5. A Continued History of Rebellion vs. 26-31
- Continued disobedience vs. 26
- Crying out vs. vs. 27
- Return to disobedience vs. 28-29
- Deaf to God’s warnings vs. 30
Life Application:
Lengthening ShadowsC. S. Lewis, after the death of his wife, Joy, wrote of the despair and spiritual twilight he experienced. Part of the agony Lewis felt was the fading from his memory of her appearance. He began to forget what she looked like. He couldn’t quite recall, and it filled him with a sense of betrayal and a deep anguish of soul.
When we forget, we live as strangers.
The Old Testament is filled with recollections. The Psalms often recount Israel’s history and how God delivered them. Hebrew prayers often center on retelling the goodness of God in history. In this chapter the Levites led the people in looking back, reminding them of what God looked like—to marvel at his faithful love, his compassion and generosity. It was also a chance for them to look in the mirror.
It is a valuable practice to keep a journal, writing down decisions, prayers, and events so that you recognize the presence of God. Such remembrances keep life and our relationship with Christ accurate and alive.[1]
Digging Deeper:
The Law (9:13–14, 29, 34)
For the Jew the law was not viewed as a set of restrictive commands and regulations. Instead, they saw the law as God’s benevolent gift that set them apart from other nations and gave them life. Psalm 19:7–8 states, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” The Mosaic commands, blessings, and curses flowed out of God’s faithful mercy. “In keeping them there is great reward” (Ps. 19:11).
The Ezra era marked some of the first interpretative approaches to the law. From this time forward the scribes and Levites began comparing Scripture with Scripture and reinterpreting the text’s meaning for a current situation. From these explanations new traditions and understanding of orthodoxy developed. Eventually new “laws” were instituted. These were not part of the original law of God but were put in place by rabbis to establish a protective “fence” around the Torah.
These laws were meant to prevent people from breaking the Law of Moses. While the law prohibited work on the Sabbath, the protective laws prohibited handling a tool (a hammer, pencil, or money) without good reason, lest one forget that it was the Sabbath and perform some forbidden work. These rabbinic laws eventually became voluminous, far outweighing God’s original commands.[2]
Questions to Consider:
1. Looking back on your own life, discuss which aspects of God’s character seem most significant. Share specific ways God has been faithful and compassionate to you.
2. The Israelites constantly reviewed God’s promises to them given through Abraham. Make a list of the promises God has given us through Jesus Christ.
3. Is there any relationship between the Jews’ distress under a foreign power and the Christian’s relationship to society? If so, explain.[3]
Prayer Time:
[1] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 236–237.
[2] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 237.
[3] Knute Larson and Kathy Dahlen, Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, ed. Max Anders (Broadman & Holman Publishers., 2005), 238.