PODCAST
Our Hope For Revival
February 15th, 2018
Nehemiah 9:9-20
The restoration of authentic worship requires a restored relationship with God. With Nehemiah’s encouragement, Ezra the priest organized a public reading of the Book of the Law of Moses (Nehemiah 8:1). The Levites instructed the people in the meaning of the words they heard. This resulted in several immediate responses: The people worshiped God; they wept for their neglect of God’s Word, but were encouraged not to grieve “for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (v. 10). They enthusiastically obeyed what they were taught. They consecrated a sacred assembly where they publically “confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors” (9:2). Their confession concluded with a prayer of restoration and reaffirmation led by the Levites. Finally, a binding agreement was drawn up and signed committing their entire community “to follow the Law of God given through Moses” (10:29).
This restoration was made possible not because of their actions, but because God is “a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (9:17).
Author: Duane Brush
