People confess their sins and renewed commitment

It is really not difficult for us to understand why the Israelites kept disobeying the commandments of God.

Simply because we are as human as the Israelites in the Old Testament, do you agree?

Haven’t we gone against God’s teachings and even warnings on many occasions?

 

Bible Passage: Nehemiah 9-10

As we read through the passage from vv. 7 to 31, we see that the law was being read to the people; and it included the history of the Israelites from Abraham to the Exodus, even to the time when the Israelites were comfortably living in the Promised Land.

 But in between, we read of many mentions of their rebellion against God’s will and provisions, and then they were punished.

How do you feel after reading all these?

For me I feel that people who know God and yet go against His will, they need to be punished.

And it is true that to be punished by God is way better than being tortured or killed by man. Just like what David had decided on the choices God gave him after he sinned against God by taking a census of Israel. (ref. 2Samuel 24:14)

Man’s tendencies to sin can be seen right from the beginning of time, humans are indeed weak in the flesh but we should not use this as our excuse whenever we sinned against God.

   “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

 

We have a God who is love, and His mercies are great, then again can we take His love and mercies for granted?

We all know the answer, but knowing is one thing, but doing it is totally another. So we have to put in our effort to be reminded of God’s love and mercies by meditating on His words daily.

And we must not deny the fact that we can still sin due to our own pride. Therefore we must constantly keep our behavior, words and thoughts in check.

As what our preachers have been reminding us, “Repent daily, for we tend to sin daily”

May God grant us a heart of humility and a repentant heart that relies on His mercies daily.

Shalom

 

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