Old Testament: Neh 9.26–27

To read the Bible in a year, read Nehemiah 9–11 on June 19, In the year of our Lord 2020

By Don Ruhl

As the Levites led the congregation in a prayer, they recounted Israel’s history of continual and repeated rebellion by Israel, but of endless mercy by God. In part of their prayer, they said:

“Nevertheless they were disobedient
And rebelled against You,
Cast Your law behind their backs
And killed Your prophets, who testified against them
To turn them to Yourself;
And they worked great provocations.
Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies,
Who oppressed them;
And in the time of their trouble,
When they cried to You,
You heard from heaven;
And according to Your abundant mercies
You gave them deliverers who saved them
From the hand of their enemies.”

– Nehemiah 9.26–27

Reading the Book of Judges shows exactly what the Levites meant. Israel rebelled, God delivered them to their enemies, they cried out to God, He gave them a deliverer (a Judge), who saved them, and they remained faithful to the Lord God until the death of the judge and then they returned to rebellion, only to start all over again.

Questions:

• Do you remain loyal to the Lord or do you go back and forth between falling away and going back to Him?
• If so, why do you have a problem remaining loyal?

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