RETURNING TO THE RESTORING GOD

FEBRUARY 15, 2015

FIRST THOUGHTS 

“One of the central affirmations throughout the Bible is humanity's estrangement from God. The cause for this estrangement is sin, the root cause of all the problems of humanity. The Bible, however, gives no formal definition for sin. It describes sin as an attitude that personifies sin as rebellion against God. Rebellion was at the root of the problem for Adam and Eve (Gen. 3) and has been at the root of humanity's plight ever since.”

 

 “One concept of sin in the OT is that of transgression of the law. God established the law as a standard of righteousness; any violation of this standard is defined as sin.”

 

 

“Another concept of sin in the OT is as breach of the covenant.”

 

“The OT also pictures sin as a violation of the righteous nature of God. As the righteous and holy God, He sets forth as a criterion for His people a righteousness like His own (Lev. 11:45). Any deviation from God's own righteousness is viewed as sin.”

 

“Jesus taught quite forcefully that sin is a condition of the heart. He traced sin directly to inner motives stating that the sinful thought leading to the overt act is the real sin. The outward deed is actually the fruit of sin.”

 

“The NT interprets sin as “unbelief.” However, unbelief is not just the rejection of a dogma or a creed. Rather, it is the rejection of that spiritual light which has been revealed in Jesus Christ. Or, from another perspective, unbelief is the rejection of the supreme revelation as it is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Unbelief is resistance to the truth of God revealed by the Spirit of God and produces moral and spiritual blindness.”

 

“The Bible looks upon sin in any form as the most serious of humanity's problems. Though sinful acts may be directed against another person, ultimately every sin is against God, the Creator of all things. Perfect in righteousness, God cannot tolerate that which violates His righteous character. Therefore, sin creates a barrier between God and persons.” 

Excerpts From: Chad Owen Brand, Archie England & Charles W. Draper. “Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.” Holman Bible Publishers, 2009-11-27. iBooks.

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(From the article “Sin”, by Billy E. Simmons pages 1505-1507) 

UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

·        A revived people naturally desire renewal of their covenant relationship with God.

·        When sin separates people from God’s blessings, the initial step to reestablishing fellowship is repentance.

·        Repentance, however, is predicated upon the Holy Spirit’s work of conviction produced through God’s Word.

·        Standing in honor of God and His Word, the people again listened to God’s Word being read for several hours.

·        Then they spent additional hours in confession of sin and worship.

·        Selected Levites stood on the raised platform and led the people in worship and praise.

·        The Israelites recognized that their ancestors and they had behaved arrogantly, rebelling against their benevolent God.

·        Repeatedly they turned aside from God.

·        The people’s sin resulted in chastisement and bondage, yet God remained forgiving and merciful.

·        When the Israelites forsook the Lord, He removed His protective hand and they suffered under oppressive enemies.

·        When they cried to God, He rescued and redeemed them.  

“The Jews gathered for an assembly of confession and mourning over their sins. Led by the Levites, the people recounted their history and God's enduring love.”

 

“Prayer can be fluid conversation, formalized recitation, or congregational confession, but the most critical issue we bring to any time of prayer is the attitude of the heart. When we cut through our requests, anxieties, frustrations, or joy—what do we desire? Is prayer self-serving or God glorifying?” 

Excerpts From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.

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·        In the earlier part of the chapter the prayer was offered by recounting the past and the rebellion their ancestor’s.

·        Verses 32-37 switches to a more personal note. 

EXPLORE THE TEXT 

NEHEMIAH 9:32-37 NASB 

VERSE 32:

"Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day.  

“In view of Israel's persistence in sin and rebellion, they could only appeal to God's compassion. The nation had broken the covenant over and over again, so they had only one hope—God's love.” 

Excerpt From: Knute Larson, Max Anders & Kathy Dahlen. “Holman Old Testament Commentary - Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.” B&H Publishing Group, 2010-02-08. iBooks.

This material may be protected by copyright. 

·        Today, we have the son Jesus Christ to make our appeal to.

·        What has gone before is a recounting of past wanderings away from God by their ancestors.

·        As it was true for the Israelites, it is true in our lives.

·        When we face the consequences of our thoughts and are suffering for it, then we remember and return with repentant hearts to the one who loves us most.

·        This would teach us perhaps to recount our sins first and acknowledge, with praise who Jesus is, and then to make our request.

·        This would put everything into perspective and put us in the proper frame of worship. 

VERSE 33:

"However, You are just in all that has come upon us; For You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly.  

·        As with salvation, it is very difficult for us to acknowledge that we are wrong.

·        Apparently it is an ongoing exercise that requires us to be humble and admit our sins and acknowledge God’s love toward us in our suffering.

·        Here they are placing their hope in God. 

VERSE 34:

"For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions with which You have admonished them. 

·        See verse 32.

·        There the prophets were included with those who had suffered.

·        Here they are excluded from those who “have not kept Your law Or paid attention to Your commandments and Your admonitions.”

·        Why do you think it is so? 

VERSE 35:

"But they, in their own kingdom, With Your great goodness which You gave them, With the broad and rich land which You set before them, Did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds. 

·        Instead of praising God through obedience and gratitude when everything was good, they instead forgot the one who blessed them and went their own way. 

VERSE 36:

"Behold, we are slaves today, And as to the land which You gave to our fathers to eat of its fruit and its bounty, Behold, we are slaves in it. 

·        When they were captured and taken into captivity, they were able to enjoy the fruit of their labor; now they cannot because their labor goes to the king of Persia.

·        They were looking for a complete restoration.

·        This is very close to declaring open rebellion against the king. 

VERSE 37:

"Its abundant produce is for the kings Whom You have set over us because of our sins; They also rule over our bodies And over our cattle as they please, So we are in great distress.  

Here in summary form is the result of sin.

The work of their hands and body enriches an enemy king. 

“Poverty and slavery are the fruits of sin; it is sin that brings us into all our distresses.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible.