After the celebration of the
Feast of Tabernacle where they lived in booths made of leafy branches, the
people now proclaim a day of fasting and mourning. They wore sackcloths, put
dirt in themselves, and separated themselves from the foreigners. They
confessed their sins and that of their ancestors and read the law of God and
worshipped. Eight Levites on a platform then loudly cried a prepared prayer,
most likely to be written by Ezra. This was perhaps one of the longest prayers
in the Word of God.
The prayer began with a confession of the greatness of God in
Nehemiah 9:5-15 where they started with a proclamation of the glorious name of
God. Then they recalled his work of creation and praised his wonderful works
for making the heavens and earth and everything in them. They also acknowledged
His calling on the life of Abraham, and the covenant He made with him to make
him and his descendants His own people. They also gratefully acknowledged the
gift of the promised land.
Influenced greatly by the recent reading of the Word of God. They
rehearsed how God had delivered them out of their bondage in Egypt with great
signs and wonders and brought them into Canaan, in fulfillment of
His promise. They remembered how God opened the sea and led them by the pillar
of fire and the pillar of cloud. And how He also gave them the law at Mount Sinai
and instructed them on the Sabbath rest. He not only delivered them but
provided manna from heaven and water from the rock for them in their journey
through the wilderness. This righteous God had indeed been faithful to His
people.
In reflecting on these verses, we cannot get away from our wonderful God who alone deserves to be acknowledged and praised. He is the creator God who faithfully sustains His people. He is also a covenant maker and a promise keeper. This God is not only righteous but also merciful. How not to honor and love Him in return? Let us like them give our best to only worship and revere Him through life.
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