GOD’S CHASTENING LOVE. Nehemiah 9:26-31 Disobedience arose repeatedly as the Israelites rebelled against the Lord. God had led them through the wilderness and allowed them to take the land of Canaan when He drove the pagan people out before them by His power. He provided for their every need. They had homes and land, and He supplied them with all they needed from His fullness. Yet they still rebelled against Him. They turned away from the law's constraints and standards, even though, in the time of the judges, God sent judges to deliver them from their oppressors.
They were still people who hardened their necks against God in their disobedience to His will and word. In contrast to the wonders of God's person and work on behalf of His people, there was the proud and arrogant attitude and actions of those He called to be His people. Despite their condition, God did not forsake them or eliminate them as an identifiable people, but was merciful to them.
"To whom much is given, much is required" makes those who have been blessed with spiritual and temporal blessings far more responsible to obey God and live by faith in Him than those around us who know nothing about God except through their senses. We have been given such privileges that when we take them for granted or treat them with disdain or dishonor, we are actually seeking to demean a holy God into being one who should do all this for us because we demand it. What dishonor! What disrespect! What a disgrace on our part!
From verses 26 through 31, the prayer speaks of God’s chastening love as the Jews faced the consequences of their sins, yet He still permitted them to remain an identifiable people. The final part of this beautiful prayer is the people’s confession; their admission that they received what they deserved. God had never been unfaithful to them despite their unfaithfulness to Him. Their identity endured because of God’s mercy and grace, without which no nation can survive.
Reading the word of God and confessing sin often go together. There are things that happen in our lives that we may not consider very important until we read and heed the scripture. "Abstain from all appearance of evil" means just that. Anything that suggests an activity is questionable is wrong. Sincerity among God's people and humility lead to confession and separation from anything that defiles. The desire of those in fellowship with God is to worship Him.
It is consistent with our new nature to honor our Lord and to see Him honored publicly. That's why we do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. When repentance and restoration are among God's people, and when there is an awakening to the importance and reality of God's plans, we pray together and in private as intercessors for those around us. We also conduct ourselves in ways that demonstrate our sincerity toward God and our genuine interest in the spiritual well-being of those around us.
Like those Jews in the past who finally faced their sins, we need to be reminded of who we are and where we came from. In their prayer, they faced themselves and their forbearers, seeing themselves for what they truly were. Willfulness and stubbornness are characteristics of the old nature with which we were born. By nature, we want our own way despite what those who want the best for us have taught us. Deceitfulness has become part of the way of life in the world today, but this is not new. The Israelites and everyone else shared the same character fault. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and is desperately wicked."
Today, as in the past, people and nations are covenant breakers. Covenants of marriage are broken. Covenants in business are broken. Covenants among nations are broken. Covenants God made with His people were broken by people, but never by God. He keeps covenant. It is arrogance on the part of human beings that, when we "dealt proudly," as they did in the past, we become stiff- necked, or "hard-necked," as those people did, and refuse to listen to what God says or to do what God wants.
The results of such attitudes and behavior lead us into slavery to sin and a desire to commit sin. Then, as lawbreakers, unfaithful and wicked people, become almost the normal way of life for those who ignore the Lord God of heaven. At least those in that day acknowledged and affirmed that God was right and they were wrong, and were willing to sign an affirmation document to that effect. It is then that recovery can begin, fellowship can be restored, and the terms of a covenant relationship can again be in place between our Righteous God and His own people.
Disobedience to authority is bad enough, but disobedience to the Almighty Lord God is absolutely inexcusable. "They were disobedient" was a statement of fact regarding the Israelites, and their children knew it. They also had to face their own disobedience, as do we. To disobey God is to reject His right to be our Lord. Unthankful people have characterized every generation to this present moment. People accept every blessing as if they have a right to it, own it, and got it for themselves. "Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above..."