Seeds for 08/29/2024 - Nehemiah 1:8-9
Scripture:
8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’
Observation:
Nehemiah continues his particular prayer recorded in the book bearing his name that, we’ve been told, is representative of his contending in prayer since he first heard about the sad state of Jerusalem. A few thoughts on this section of the prayer…
First, Nehemiah knows and prays into the scripture story. His appeal to God is to remember His instruction to Moses. Moses lived roughly a thousand years before Nehemiah. Yet Nehemiah notes the reference as if they were near contemporaries. Nehemiah understands that Moses’ story can be his story too since they are both servants of the One True God. The biblical figures can come alive to us in the same way.
Second, Nehemiah acknowledges the consequence of Israel’s sin within the command of God: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations.” Rather than skip over the difficult, damning part of the verse, Nehemiah quotes the whole thing, recognizing its significance for them at that present time.
Third, the promise of rescue and redemption upon repentance is greater than the consequence for unfaithfulness. Just look at the word count. The consequence is simple, concise, and straightforward. By contrast, the redemptive promise is lengthy and involved—“even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon.” This feels like an echo of Jesus’ parable of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in order to track down and bring back the one wayward sheep.
Application:
Do you have a biblical story or passage that seems to connect with your life right now? What insight does it provide?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, write your word in my heart and mind, that I may find guidance in your commands and promises. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
If you liked this post from Seeds of Faith, why not share it and/or subscribe?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™