The Greatness of God

Topic: Repentance
Passage: Nehemiah 9:1–8

September 23, 2022

Commentary

The Feast of the Tabernacles ended, but the people lingered to hear the Word of God. The events of this chapter occurred two days after the end of the Feast of the Tabernacles. It was a day of fasting and mourning (v. 1). The wearing of sackcloth and the placing of earth on their heads was a sign of great mourning and sorrow. This sorrow and mourning was evidenced by the fact that they were willing to make a clear separation from the heathen nations around them (v. 2).

As you read this chapter you will notice that it reveals the greatness of God (vv 1-8), the goodness of God (vv 9-25), the goading of God (vv 26-31), and the grace of God (vv 31-38).

A. The greatness of God (vv. 1-8)

  1. His greatness is seen through worship (vv 1-5) – The people took time to confess their sins (vv 2-5) and seek the Lord’s forgiveness. They separated themselves from the world as they drew near to the Lord.
  2. His greatness is seen in the fact that He is God alone (v. 6a).
  3. His greatness is evidenced in the fact He created the universe (v. 6b).
  4. His greatness is seen through His care for His creation (v. 6c).
  5. His greatness is confirmed in the fact that the hosts of heaven worship Him (v. 6d)

This summary of God’s past reminded the people of their great heritage and God’s promises (vv. 7-8). Reviewing our past helps us understand how to improve our behavior.

Application

Reading and studying the Word of God should proceed confession because God can show me where I am sinning. I cannot have a right relationship with God unless my sin is put under the blood.

Nehemiah 9:1– 8 (NET)

1 On the twenty-fourth day of this same month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust. 2 Those truly of Israelite descent separated from all the foreigners, standing and confessing their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors. 3 For one-fourth of the day they stood in their place and read from the book of the law of the Lord their God, and for another fourth they were confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord their God. 4 Then the Levites—Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the steps and called out loudly to the Lord their God. 5 The Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God!”

6 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, along with all their multitude of stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You impart life to them all, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

7 “You are the Lord God who chose Abram and brought him forth from Ur of the Chaldeans. You changed his name to Abraham. 8 When you perceived that his heart was faithful toward you, you established a covenant with him to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. You have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous.