Ezra 9
Nehemiah 9 portrays a scene in which the people of Israel return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, stand before God’s word, and offer prayers of repentance and confession. This chapter can be divided broadly into two parts. First, it shows the preparation process in which the people fast, wear sackcloth, and confess their own sins and the sins of their ancestors (verses 1–5). From verse 6 to verse 37, however, the Levites record a lengthy prayer offered to God. In this prayer, Israel looks back over its long history—from God the Creator, to the history of how He rescued Israel from Egypt, guidance in the wilderness, the conquest of Canaan, repeated disobedience, and God’s forgiveness, all the way to exile and restoration—praising God’s kindness and faithfulness, and deeply repenting of the people’s sins.
1verseNow when these things were done, the princes came near to me, saying, “The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2verseFor they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.”
3verseWhen I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled the hair out of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
4verseThen everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel were assembled to me because of the trespass of the exiles; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
5verseAt the evening offering I rose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the LORD my God;
6verseand I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
7verseSince the days of our fathers we have been exceedingly guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8verseNow for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a stake in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and revive us a little in our bondage.
9verseFor we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10verse“Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,
11versewhich you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land to which you go to possess is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12verseNow therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’
13verse“After all that has come on us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
14verseshall we again break your commandments, and join ourselves with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15verseLORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for no one can stand before you because of this.”
The Whole Meaning of Nehemiah 9
What stands out most clearly in this chapter is repentance and the renewal of the covenant. The people of Israel acknowledge that the failure of their past history was due to their own sins and their ancestors’ sins, and confess that they can stand again only through God’s mercy and grace. Within the long prayer that retraces history, Israel also acknowledges that, time and again, it experienced repeated disobedience, the resulting discipline, and God’s forgiveness and guidance. They confess that God was always faithful, but the people were not able to follow that faithfulness fully. In the final section (verses 32–37), they admit that although they have been restored from their situation as captives, it is still not complete restoration, and they ask for God’s mercy. This symbolizes corporate repentance, a new beginning, and a decision to become a covenant community grounded in God’s word.
Meditation Points
- Notice that the prayer of the people of Israel is not limited only to personal sins, but is repentance that encompasses the entire community and all of history.
- In the relationship between God and the people, reflect on the repeated mistakes and God’s patience and mercy toward them.
- Let’s think about the importance of the attitude of prayer that looks back on the past, honestly acknowledges God’s grace, and admits my own weakness.
Apply It to Me
- Also look back on how you have experienced God’s faithfulness throughout your journey of life.
- Think about what needs to be examined in your daily life and community—what you should confess more honestly before God and what parts you need to repent of.
- Let’s make a decision to live as God’s covenant people with a new heart, and practice, in everyday life, prayers of repentance and a heart of gratitude.
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