Nehemiah 9:34

_HOWBEIT THOU ART JUST IN ALL THAT IS BROUGHT UPON US; FOR THOU HAST DONE RIGHT, BUT WE HAVE DONE WICKEDLY:_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

4-38 The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our...

Verse 34. _NEITHER HAVE OUR KINGS_] In this verse he acknowledges that the _kings, princes, priests_, and _fathers_, had broken the law: but the _prophets_ are left out; for _they_ continued faithful to God, testifying by his Spirit against the crimes of all; and this even at the risk of their lives....

EXPOSITION SOLEMN FAST KEPT, WITH CONFESSION OF SINS; AND VOLUNTARY COVENANT WITH GOD ENTERED INTO BY THE PEOPLE, AND SEALED TO BY THE PRINCES, PRIESTS, AND LEVITES (Nehemiah 9:1.). When the law was first read to them on the opening day of the seventh month, the people had shown strong feelings of compunction, an earnest desire to return to God by the thorny way of repentance. In checking this feeling on that particular day, Ezra and Nehemia

CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The public humiliation and confession (Nehemiah 9:1)_ 2. The great confession and prayer (Nehemiah 9:6) Nehemiah 9:1. Two days after the feast of tabernacles had been concluded this humiliation and confession of sin took place. The assembled congregation fasted, with sackcloth and earth upon them. Separation was next. Evil confessed must mean evil put away. They separated themselves from all strangers, and after their confession they worshipped the Lord. Here again is the right order of a spiritual revival. Reading, hearing and believing the Word always comes first; humiliation, self-judgment, confession and true worship follow....

THE FAST AND A NATIONAL CONFESSION. All that took place, as described in this section, was the result of the reading of the Law. The command to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles having been observed, there followed a spontaneous outburst of self-condemnation on the part of the people, who were conscience-stricken on account of having hitherto neglected to observe the Law; they had clearly been desirous of expressing their sorrow before (see Nehemiah 8:9), but it would have been inappropriate during the feast. Fasting and prayerful confession were fitly followed (see next section) by a solemn act of resolution of amendment. Nehemiah 9:1. the twenty and fourth day: the second day after the celebration of the feast, _i.e._ in the seventh month (see...

_neither have our kings_ The construction is the same as in Nehemiah 9:19_; Nehemiah 9:32_, -As for our kings, … they have not." _kept thy law_ Literally -done thy law," i.e. carried into practice the Divine teaching. Cf. Nehemiah 9:14_; Nehemiah 9:29_. _nor hearkened_ Cf. Zechariah 1:4, -But they (your fathers) did not hear nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord." _didst testify against them_ Probably with special reference to Leviticu

8. Prayer for present mercy. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 9:32-38 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who dost keep covenant and lovingkindness, Do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before Thee, Which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and on all Thy people, From the days of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33 However, Thou art just in all that hast come upon us; For Thou hast dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. 34 For our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our fathers have not kept Thy law Or paid attention to Thy commandments and Thy admonitions with which Thou has admonished them. 35 But they, in their own kingdom, With Thy great goodness which Thou didst give them, With the broad and rich land whi

9:34 them. (b-29) Or 'in the midst of them.'...

THE RENEWAL OF THE COVENANT 4. Stairs] lit. 'ascent': probably the pulpit of wood mentioned in Nehemiah 8:4. BANI.. BANI] One of the two names is probably an error for 'Binnui': cp. Nehemiah 12:8....