Return from Exile: Nehemiah 9.4-38 (2)

Pray Psalm 78.1-4.
Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Sing Psalm 78.1-4.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
Give ear, O my people, attend to my word,
dark sayings and parables sent from the LORD,
things we have before by our Fathers been told,
which we would not dare from our children withhold.

Read Nehemiah 9.1-15; meditate on verses 13-15.

Preparation
1. How did the people describe God’s Word?

2. For what else did they praise the LORD?

Meditation
The people continued in praise to the LORD, standing as they blessed Him for His abundant provision to their fathers and, by implication, to them as well.

They praised God for His Law, describing it as just, true, and good (v. 13). What is true of God’s Law is true of all His Word. We must not fail to thank and praise the LORD Who condescends (“came down”, v. 13) to speak to us, revealing Himself and His will. “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?” (Deut. 4.7, 8)

They continued praising God for the Sabbath, that one day of rest capping off six days of work and preparing them for the week to come (v. 14). The Sabbath—the Lord’s Day in our day—was meant for the rest, refreshment, and renewal of our souls and bodies, that we might grow stronger to serve Him well in all our work. We neglect or compromise the Lord’s Day to our peril.

Finally in this segment, they praised the Lord for having met their physical and material needs—bread, water, and a place to call home (v. 15). We must not take these daily blessings for granted. For what do we have that we have not received? And since we have received it, we ought not boast about it as if by our own strength we had gained it. For every good and perfect gift of provision comes to us from the Lord (1 Cor. 4.7; Jms, 1.17).

He meets our needs, physical and spiritual. Praise Him!

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with Moses and gave him ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments and precepts (Neh. 9.13, 14).

Moses showed us how we should respond to this same wondrous gift. He told all Israel, and by extension all believers: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess” (Deut. 32.46, 47).

God said to Moses: “You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD” (Lev. 18.4, 5).

The psalmist wrote: “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.” “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end” (Ps. 119.93, 112).

Solomon wrote: “Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.” “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death” (Prov. 4.13; 13.14).

Jesus said: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (Jn. 6.63). “He who does not love Me does not keep My words…” (Jn. 14.24).

Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn. 6.68).

Paul wrote to Timothy: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3.16, 17).

And the writer of the book of Hebrews said: “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4.12, 13).

Why would anyone not be drawn to the love and wisdom in this Book?
How could we not hunger and thirst for the righteousness found within its pages?
When did we start thinking that God’s daily word is not necessary for our life and breath?
Where will we ever find out what is true other than in God’s holy Word?
Who would dare to disagree with God?

God said to Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you?” (Josh. 1.8, 9).

Well, yes, He has commanded us. And we would do well to do His pleasure.
And when we do, we will have much to praise and thank Him for.

God bothered to give it, shouldn’t we bother to love, read, and do it?

For reflection
1. What would you say to a fellow believer who didn’t believe it is all that important to spend time in God’s Word each day?

2. What benefits do you gain from your time in the Word?

3. Whom will you encourage today to be diligent in feeding on the Word of God?

The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Nehemiah 9.4-38

Pray Psalm 78.4-7.
Thank the Lord for His Word and all His daily provision. Be specific. Remember important truths He has taught you and all the many ways He has met your needs. Praise Him!

Sing Psalm 78.4-7.
(Foundation: How Firm a Foundation)
The glorious deeds of our God in His might,
and all of the works He has done in our sight,
together with all of the words of His Law,
would we on ourselves and our children bestow.

LORD, let all our children arise and declare
the truth of the LORD every day, everywhere,
and set all their hopes in God’s wonderful Word,
and never forget all the works of the LORD.

T. M. and Susie Moore

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.