Ep. 209. Nehemiah 9,13 | Boldness

EPISODE 209

BOLDNESS: NEHEMIAH 9-13

Nehemiah chapter 9 reads so similarly to Daniel 9. In each case the men of God are reflecting on the work of God and the sinfulness of the people. Both cry out to God for his mercy and forgiveness. Nehemiah, however, gives a bit more detail of the history of the people of Israel. Nehemiah reflects on God as creator, Abraham's calling, the ten plagues, the Exodus, the Red Sea crossing, Mount Sinai, manna, water from a rock, idolatry, and the forty years in the wilderness. He remembers the Judges, the prophets, and the overwhelming rebellion of the people. It is fantastic to consider how well the people's history has been preserved to this point. Those who were faithful to the things of God knew the history of God and his people well. A text like Nehemiah 9 comes to focus if we can hold in our minds the myriad stories of the Old Testament we have covered to this point. I know it seems an overwhelming task to keep in mind the narrative of the Jews throughout the history of the Bible, but it will absolutely shape well our understanding of books like Nehemiah.

I don't think there is any excuse for us to be uneducated in the Scripture. If we are brand new to the faith, it is understandable that we would not know the details, but we who have labored long in our faith ought to know the writings that frame our faith for us.

Nehemiah ends with him dealing, again, with the same sin that Ezra has already dealt with. Some may argue that Nehemiah was out of line for pulling out the hair of the offenders while Ezra, grief-stricken as he was, pulled out his own hair. Is there not room for both Nehemiah and Ezra to exist in our world of faith?

ADDITIONAL READING: Deuteronomy 7:3; Numbers 22-24; Deuteronomy 7:9; Daniel 9:4; Romans 10:5: Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 8:1-5; Exodus 34:6-7