Merciful
Nehemiah helped the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. In doing that, he also helped them to rebuild their spiritual walls by gathering the people together and having the law read to them. The people were deeply moved and returned to the Lord. Our reading today is part of the prayer of covenant renewal which they prayed at this time.The prayer recalls the ups and downs of Israel's history, with God being responsible for most of the ups and the people being responsible for the downs. Look at the words the prayer uses of the people: "arrogant", "disobeyed", "sinned", "stubbornly", "stiff-necked", "refused to listen" and "paid no attention."
If I were God, I think I would wind this all up and start again on Mars!
But God, while allowing them to experience the consequence of their rebellion, doesn't treat them as their sins deserve. He shows them great mercy.
Mercy:
when someone deserves and has brought great trouble on themselves,
when someone has no rights and cannot leverage any kind of claim,
when someone has used up all their credit and is in debt on every front...
and is still given a chance, then that is mercy.
This is our story (and this is our song!)
God did not end us or abandon us.
He sent us His Son!
| You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. (Nehemiah9:29-31) |
