DAY

ONE: [Re]read Nehemiah 9 (text below). Use the note column to the right to jot down words or phrases that stick out to you.

SESSION EIGHT

Nehemiah 9

The Israelites Confess Their Sins

On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. 4 Standing on the stairs of the Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God. 5 And the LevitesJeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiahsaid: Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. 7 You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a

Notes: As you read, make note of all the times that God provided for the people and all of the times he gave them a second chance.

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covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous. 9 You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea. 10 You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. 12 By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take. 13 You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses. 15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them. 16 But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff- necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt, or when they committed awful blasphemies. 19 Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. 22 You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og

Notes: As you read, make note of all the times that God provided for the people and all of the times he gave them a second chance.

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king of Bashan. 23 You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. 24 Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. 26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. 27 So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies. 28 But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. 29 You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, The person who obeys them will live by them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. 30 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 31 But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyesthe hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. 33 In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay

Notes: As you read, make note of all the times that God provided for the people and all of the times he gave them a second chance.

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attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. 35 Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways. 36 But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress. The Agreement of the People 38 In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it.

Notes: As you read, make note of all the times that God provided for the people and all of the times he gave them a second chance.

SESSION EIGHT

DAY TWO: In Session Seven (Nehemiah 8), we studied and read about the celebration of the completion of the wall. The people of Jerusalem gathered as one and stood and listened to the reading of the Law. As they observed the Feast of the Tabernacles they were challenged and convicted deeply by the word of God, read by Ezra, the scribe. Chapter 9 picks right up where chapter 8 left off. Near the end of the feast, the people gathered once more to worship God as a reunited nation. With humble hearts they SIDE NOTE: confessed their sins and acknowledged a dependence on Him. Sackcloth: made of coarse, black goat's hair, customarily worn by mourners or as a sign of deep [Re]read Nehemiah 9:1-5a. What preparations repentance and humility. Ashes were often did the people make before spending time in included as a further symbol of personal worship? abhorrence and chagrin. Examples: Genesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 3:31, Jonah 3:3-8, Esther 4:1 Dust on their Heads: to sprinkle with or sit in ashes was a mark or token of grief, h umiliation, or penitence. Ashes on the head was one of the ordinary signs of mourning for the dead, as when "Tamar put ashes on her head .... and went on Why would they put on sackcloth and sprinkle crying" (2 Sam 13:19), and of national humiliation, dust on their heads? as when the children of Israel were assembled under Nehemiah "with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth (ashes) upon them" (Neh 9:1) Other examples: 1 Samuel 4:12; Joshua 7:6 78

 Chapter 9 contains numerous examples of the brokenness Israel was experiencing. Thinking back to what we studied last week in chapter 8 and what youve read this week in chapter 9, what was it that lead the Israelites to confession? What was it that exposed their brokenness? The word will direct and quicken prayer, for by it the Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer. The careful study of God's word will more and more discover to us our own sinfulness, and the plenteousness of his salvation; thus it calls us to mourn for sin, and to rejoice in him. Every discovery of the truth of God, should render us more unwearied in attendance on his sacred word, and on his worship. ~Matthew Henrys Concise Commentary on the Bible

How have you experienced the power of Gods Word? David writes in Psalm 119 that Gods word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Look up Psalm 119:105-112. How had the Israelites lost sight of what David once wrote? The closer we get to God, the more exposed we become. When the light of God shines on us, all of our imperfections and brokenness are plainly seen. For the Israelites, the reading of Gods word convicted their hearts and became an entry point into the presence of God. Many people walk outside of Gods light, for fear of exposure, but a life lived in darkness can only lead to wandering into dangerous places. As the Israelites worshipped and confessed, they began to [re]member all that God had done for them and [re]discovered how his providential hand had been upon them. Darkness makes us lose sight of the beauty of Gods plan for all humanity. Darkness leaves us lost and hopeless. But God is persistent in everlasting love. 79

 Just as the people of Israel identified the low points of their spiritual history, take a few moments for two brief historical surveys of your own. Make a list of the low points and places of brokenness due to sin: In your personal life. In the life and history of the church (even your own congregation) When your small group gathers, consider sharing one place of brokenness from each list. Well take a deeper look at brokenness on DAY FIVE.

NEXT STEPS: Go to the Wadsworth UMC DISCPLE STEPS blog PRAYER page:
http://disciplesteps.tumblr.com/prayers For each of the next three days, pick one of the eight different prayers listed. Spend some alone time with God in meditation, using that prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to encompass you as you pray.

SESSION EIGHT

DAY THREE: [Re]read Nehemiah 9:5b-21. In Nehemiah 8, the people gathered and Ezra read the Law. Two weeks later the people gathered again. Their hunger for Gods Word intensified. The light of Gods Word exposed their brokenness and shone in areas of their lives that had long been in darkness. So they came to confess their sin. As a result, a deep cleansing took place. 80

 The Hebrew verb for confession, yadah, has a dual meaning. It can refer to confession of sins (9:2, 3), but it can also be translated, to praise, that is, to acknowledge Gods greatness and power, as is seen in 9:5b-21. Both aspects of the verb are being used here in Nehemiah 9. The people confess their sins, and they confess the awesome and mighty works of the Lord God. A doxology is a brief statement expressing praise or glory to God. A doxology generally contains two elements, an acknowledgment of praise to God and an expression of His infinite nature. Describe the doxology in verse 5b-6. The Levites lead the people in praise and worship, and chronologically through their history. Why did they begin their prayer at a point before the world existed or before the beginning of history or time? Why was it necessary for the people to be reminded of this? God chose Abram/Abraham (v. 7), why was that important for the people to remember? What does it reveal about the heart of God? Abrahams heart was faithful to God, and God made a binding agreement (covenant) with Abraham, but Abrahams descendants were not faithful. Why was it important for the people to be reminded of this? What do you learn about the heart of God in these verses, particularly as the people review their history and what God has done for them? 81

 What do you learn about the hearts of the people of Israel? SIDE NOTE: The Hebrew word, hesed What miraculous provisions did God make for His In Nehemiah 9:17 we see a glimpse of the people throughout their history? incredible faithfulness of God in the face of His rebellious, disobedient people. The Hebrew word used to describe Gods faithfulness is the word hesed. It is a word that is difficult to translate into English. Hesed is a covenant term, wrapping up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty--in short, acts of devotion and loving-kindness that go beyond the Why did God continually forgive and restore the requirements of duty. There is no good people? What does it say about Gods love for us? English word that encapsulates the meaning of hesed. It is used to describe the LORDs covenant love for his people. It is also used to describe loyalty in relationships. Hesed is the OT equivalent of the NT word grace.

NEXT STEPS: Go to the Wadsworth UMC DISCPLE STEPS blog PRAYER page:
http://disciplesteps.tumblr.com/prayers Reminder for today: pick one of the eight different prayers listed. Spend some alone time with God in meditation, using that prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to encompass you as you pray.

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SESSION EIGHT

DAY FOUR: [Re]read 9:22-38. The prayer of confession continues. Look at verses 22-25. What did God do when they reached Canaan? List some specific things they received. Look up Deuteronomy 6:10-12. What warning were the Israelites given? Read Deuteronomy 32:15. What did their reveling in Gods goodness (Neh. 9:25b) lead to? [Re]read 9:26-31. How many second chances does God give them? The cycle continued. God would provide. Israel would rebel. God would show grace (hesed). GOD PROVIDES ABU NDAN CE & BLESSIN G HESED GODS GRACE ISRAELS & ME RCY REBELLION & DISOBEDIEN CE How have you personally seen that same pattern? 83

 How did the people compare the conduct of Israel to Gods conduct (vs. 33-35)? How did the Jews summarize their current circumstances (vs. 36-37)? What did they intend to do about this (vs. 38)? John Wesley describes why the people decided to seal this covenant. It was sealed and left upon record, that it might be a witness against them, if they dealt deceitfully. This covenant was to serve as their reminder of where theyve been, a further step in [re]discovering Gods vision for not just a [re]stored wall, but a [re]stored people. God is the God of [re]storation.

NEXT STEPS: Go to the Wadsworth UMC DISCPLE STEPS blog PRAYER page:
http://disciplesteps.tumblr.com/prayers Reminder for today: pick one of the eight different prayers listed. Spend some alone time with God in meditation, using that prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to encompass you as you pray.

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 DAY FIVE: The backdrop and context for confession is the faithful, gracious and compassionate heart of God. God has been keeping his end of the covenant throughout the whole history of the world and our lives. On the other hand, we have rebelled against Him countless times. Here is the contrast : He is the covenant keeper and we are the covenant breaker. The context of confession is relationship! A Christian doesnt look at committing a sin like breaking a rule. Followers of Christ disciples see sin as a violation of a precious trust or a relationship. When we realize the greatness of the breach of relationship, we are broken, fall to our knees and cry out for forgiveness. We dont have to muster up energy to confess. It flows freely. Brokenness is basic to the life of a disciple. It is not an awful concept, but rather a beautiful gift. It is not a degrading idea or a sign of weakness of character or personality. It is just the opposite. It is actually the appropriate behavior on the part of the creature as he or she relates to the Creator. Brokenness keeps us humble, teachable, usable, and most importantly near the Cross of Jesus the place where He was broken for us! Read 1 John 1:1-10. What are some of the ways we try to deny our brokenness and avoid the humbling process of confession and repentance? What are some of the dangers we face if we refuse to confess and deal with our sin and brokenness? The community prayer in Nehemiah 9 creates a powerful backdrop for confession. Over and over the people declare Gods greatness and all He has done. Over and over the people admit that they rebelled and disobeyed Gods word and commands. What do we learn about God from this? How might spending time meditating and reflecting on the nature of God bring you to a place of honest and consistent confession of sin?

SESSION EIGHT

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 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. The closer we grow in our relationship with Jesus, our desire to sin should decrease over time. How can meditating and reflecting on the nature of God, as you know Him in Jesus Christ, help you to avoid entering into sin? Read Jeremiah 31:34, Psalm 103:12-13, Isaiah 1:18 and Ephesians 1:7-8 aloud as a group. Take time as group and celebrate Gods amazing grace and His hesed. Thank Him for the deep forgiveness that He offers, and the restored brokenness that He gives to all who come to Him through faith in Jesus. Notes:

NEXT STEPS: Go to the Wadsworth UMC DISCPLE STEPS blog PRAYER page:
http://disciplesteps.tumblr.com/prayers Reminder for today: pick one of the eight different prayers listed. Spend some alone time with God in meditation, using that prayer. Invite the Holy Spirit to encompass you as you pray.

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