REPOST FROM AUGUST 31, 2025

 REPOSTING FROM MY FACEBOOK PAGE DATED AUGUST 31, 2025

Sometimes when I am in Sunday School or church, the words of the lesson, the music or the sermon reflect almost exactly what I have been studying at home. Other times, like today, there were pieces in each that reminded of what I have written yesterday and this morning before church. Not the same scripture or the same topic, but clearly aligned as I listened and reflect on scripture. The Sunday School lesson was on Exodus 20:7-8. The songs were "Jehovah Jireh," "Down at the Cross," Wonderful, Merciful Savior," and "Living Hope." The call to worship was from Colossians 1 (People were still talking and I couldn't hear very well from the back row." The sermon was from Hebrews 11. On the surface these don't seem related to Nehemiah, but these are the words I had written earlier. Many of the same messages in Nehemiah 9 as in Sunday School, music, and sermon. 

(As I have mentioned earlier, this is from a rough draft of a study of fellowship with God that I'm working on, so please excuse any errors and understand I will continue to edit it.)

Read Nehemiah 9

What does this chapter teach us about God’s compassion?

A little background first. Nehemiah was cupbearer for King Artaxerxes. Hanani, one of his brothers, arrived from Judah around November to December. Nehemiah asked them about the remnant that remained in Jerusalem. They reported that they were in great trouble, and that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down. Nehemiah’s heart was broken by the news. He spent several days fasting and praying about the situation. He confessed his own sin and the sin of his fathers. He asked God to have compassion on him and grant him success as he served King Artaxerxes.  About four months later, King Artaxerxes noticed his sadness and asked him why he was so sad when he wasn’t sick. Nehemiah was afraid but prayed to God, and God gave him strength. He asked the king to send him back to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. The king agreed. Nehemiah also asked for letters from the king to the governors of the region for safe passage, and the keeper of the forest for lumber to rebuild the city. The king also sent military officers with him. As we continue reading, we see that God’s purpose and plan was not without opposition, yet Nehemiah remained steadfast in his faith that God had led him to undertake this project. Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite officials heard about it and were greatly displeased.  When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he spent some time surveying the damage and assessing what needed to be done before he told the people what God had laid on his heart. When he told them, they were encouraged and ready to start rebuilding. Sanballat and Tobiah began to mock them and stir up trouble, but Nehemiah was confident that God would fulfill His purpose. Nehemiah and the people went to work repairing the walls. Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, Ammonites and Ashdodites plotted to fight against Jerusalem, so Nehemiah prayed to God and stationed a guard. The people continued to work but also armed themselves as they worked. They took turns working and guarding. Then the people started to cry out because the nobles and officials were treating them unfairly and without compassion. Nehemiah reprimanded the nobles and officials, and they agreed to follow his instructions. Even though Artaxerxes appointed Nehemiah governor, he did not take his allotments and continued to work along with them in constructing the wall. Tobiah and Sanballat continued to cause trouble and Nehemiah continued to pray and trust God. The wall was completed in 52 days. When their enemies heard this, they realized that this task had been accomplished by God. The city was secure, but few people lived there, and no houses had been built. Nehemiah assembled the people to be registered by their genealogy. On the first day of the seventh month, Nehemiah asked Ezra the scribe to read the book of the law of Moses to the people. Ezra read it from daybreak until noon as the people listened attentively. The people wept because of the words of the law, but Nehemiah told them to rejoice because the joy of the Lord is their stronghold. They read about the festival of booths and celebrated this feast with great joy.  Now on the 24th day of this same month, the people are assembled again in repentance, confessing their sins and the guilt of their fathers. They read from the book of the law for ¼ of the day and spent another fourth in confession and worship. Beginning in Nehemiah 9:5-37 we read a prayer or song of praise recounting of God’s grace and compassion throughout the history of Israel. 

Read Nehemiah 9:5-37 as a prayer of praise for what God has done for us, the grace, mercy and compassion He shows us.

There must always be repentance before there can be fellowship. When we repent and accept Jesus as LORD, our eyes are opened to the multifaceted concept of fellowship. The exiles who rebuilt the wall under Nehemiah’s leadership according to God’s purpose heard the Word of God read, acknowledged their sinfulness and sincerely repented. As a result, they began to praise Him for Who He Is. He is creator of the heavens, the earth, and the sea. He created the hosts of heaven who worship Him. He created all creatures here on earth and in the sea. He created humans in His image. They praised Him for choosing Abram, changing his name to Abraham and making a covenant with him to give him the land where they now stood. They praised Him for hearing the cry of their ancestors in Egypt and for His powerful response to their oppression, for the instructions, statutes and commands He gave to them through Moses, for His provision of food and water in the wilderness. They confessed the evil actions of their ancestors who refused to listen, did not remember His wonders, who became stiff-necked and made a golden calf to worship in the place of Yahweh, Holy God, Creator and Sustainer of all things. Even after this God did not abandon them. He showed them compassion, continued to guide them on their journey, provided the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day. He continued to instruct them, provide them food and water, and did not let their clothes wear out for 40 years.  He fulfilled His promise to Abraham that his descendants would possess the Promised Land. Yet they continued to rebel and disobey Him. God handed them over to their enemies, they cried out, He delivered them, but as soon as they had relief, they continued to do evil in His sight. This cycle happened repeatedly. Because of God’s great compassion, He did not destroy them or abandon them. He is a gracious and compassionate God. They prayed for His grace and compassion in their current situation. Then they made a written commitment to return to Him in obedience. 

Even though this happened thousands of years ago, please don’t think of it as ancient history. These principles still apply to us. Our fellowship with God, through Jesus as the true fulfillment of God’s covenant to Abraham, begins with repentance. When we acknowledge our sinfulness and need for the salvation that only Jesus can provide, we also recognize that we must completely submit to Him as LORD. When we commit to Him as LORD, we begin to grasp Who He Is: Creator, Sustainer, Holy, Just, Compassionate, Consuming Fire, Redeemer, Strength, All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Always Present and the list goes on because He is completely indescribable. When we realize who we are in the presence of Holy God, our hearts respond with worship and praise. We praise Him for Who He Is. We praise Him for the His covenant of mercy fulfilled in His sacrificial death as He Himself bore our sin on the cross. We see all the compassion and grace that He as shown to us. We recognize that He disciplines us so that we can conform to His likeness. His discipline is Just. We freely present our needs to Him and pray for others.

How would you pray in this format?

• Repentance

o Personal

o National

• Worship and Praise

• Thankfulness for God’s Covenant and Promises

• Thankfulness for His Compassion

• Recognizing that His discipline is Just

• Intercession

o For our nation

o For ourselves