Read Nehemiah 9:23-31. How are the Israelites described in comparison to God’s “great goodness” (Neh. 9:25)?

This next section of the prayer/sermon focused on life in Canaan as the Israelites possessed the land that God had given them. They had been handed land, cities, vineyards, and fields ready for use, but they had taken it all for granted. At the end of verse 25, we are told that “they ate and were filled and grew fat” (NKJV). Growing fat is an expression that is found only a few times in the Bible (Deut. 32:15 and Jer. 5:28), and each time it has a negative connotation.

Hearing the Law

The people might have “delighted themselves in Your great goodness” (NKJV) but theirs wasn’t a delight in God but, instead, in all they had. Apparently having everything doesn’t produce a close walk with God. Many times we think, “If only I had this or that, then I would be happy”. Unfortunately, we see that the Israelites had everything from God, and yet their “happiness” in those things only made them less devoted to God. Too often it’s too easy for us to focus on the gifts while forgetting about the Giver. This is a fatal deception.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we cannot be happy for the things that God has given us. He desires that we rejoice in His gifts, but this joy in the things He gives doesn’t guarantee a relationship with God. In fact, if we are not careful, these things can become a stumbling block.

Nevertheless, in this chapter, the leaders now confessed the ways that they had been unfaithful to God. As they looked through their history, they specifically named transgressions they had committed as a nation. A couple of aspects emerge as especially important, because they are repeated: 1 Israel cast God’s law away, and 2 they persecuted the prophets.

In other words, they realized that God’s law and His prophets were essential to their development as a godly nation and as individuals. The prayer emphasizes this conclusion by stating that “if a man does” God’s commandments, “he shall live by them” (Neh. 9:29, NKJV; direct quote from Lev. 18:5) and by highlighting that it is the Spirit that spoke through the prophets. God has given us His commandments for an abundant life, and He sent His prophets to guide us in our understanding of His truth. What we do with these gifts is the essential question for us all.

Amen!(0)

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Key Thought: Our God is a forgiving God Who is always working to restore us back into a right relationship with Him. 

November 16, 2019 

1. Have a volunteer read Nehemiah 9:1-3. 

1. Ask class members what is the main point of this passage. 
2. Why did they confess the sins of their ancestors?  Hint: Matthew 23:29-36 
3. Personal Application: If these people confessed their sins for hours, how thorough and specific should we be in confessing our sins?
4. Case Study:  While you are supervising the school playground, little Bobby tells you little Johnny has hit  him again. This is the third time this week Johnny has done this. Each time he claims he already said, “sorry” and thinks Bobby should just forget about it each time. What do you tell Johnny? Hint: Proverbs 28:13, Luke 19:8. 

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 9:4-19.

Image © Pacific Press

1. Ask the class what is the main point of this passage.
2. How has Israel sinned, according to Daniel’s prayer?
3. Personal Application: When we see the sins going on in our community and even our church, do we point the finger, or like Daniel include ourselves as part of the sin problem? 
4. Case Study: A fellow class member points out that Daniel is confessing they have not listened to the prophets sent to them, and then asks, if we have listened to the prophets that have been sent to us. How do you respond to your fellow class member?

3. Have a volunteer read Colossians 1:16-17. 

1. Ask the class what is the main point of this passage.
2. What gives God the right to demand our obedience according to this passage?
3. Personal Application: When you feel like you are about to self destruct because of your own sins, what hope do you find in verse 17?
4. Case Study: Your grade school nephew asks you, “Did Jesus know before He created us that we would all sin and turn away from Him, causing Him to die for us? If so, why did He even bother creating us?” What do you tell your nephew? 

4. Have a volunteer(s) read Nehemiah 9:9-38 (If time is an issue then read Nehemiah 9:16-21). 

1. Ask the class what is the main point of this passage.
2. Why were the people repeating what happened so long ago to their ancestors? What did that have to do with them now?
3. Personal Application: Do you want your children and grandchildren to know about your worse sins and mistakes? Why or why not? 
4. Case Study: You get a call this week from your friend who teaches Sabbath School in the other church in your district. After years of being nicotine free she had a traumatic or stressful incident this week, and picked up a package of cigarettes.  She does not feel worthy to teach the class this coming Sabbath, and is too embarrassed to talk to anyone in her church about it. She asks you to come over this Sabbath and teach the class as her guest. What is your response? 

Conclusion: Encourage your class to share this message with someone this week. Remember, “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148

Amen!(0)

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Our Forgiving God” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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1. What order should we choose? Our lesson does not recommend an order of elements to include in our work of confessing and repenting before God, but what order do you prefer in your prayers to God for these items:  1) praise 2) repentance 3) celebration 4) confession 5) other..
2. Fasting and worship. Instead of a joyful celebration to start the proceedings, what did Nehemiah initiate as the first assignment for the people of God at this time of rejoicing? (Notice the spelling: “feasting” or “fasting”) For “a fourth of a day” the Israelites read from the “book of the law.” Do you think that was for six hours (1/4 of 24) or three hours (1/8 of the 24). What do you think would be the result of setting up prayer and worship time with these dimensions? Why? 
3. The beginning of the prayer. What is the significance of each of the following dimensions of the opening expressions in this prayer: God as 1. Creator; 2. Preserver; 3. Promise Keeper. How is the concept of God our Creator the same as or different from the concept of the importance of the Sabbath day? Which concept do you and I need to focus on more?
4. Lessons from the past. Does it ever occur to you to marvel at the many times the Children of Israel had to re-study and re-learn and then to follow the lessons of God’s leading in their past? Regarding our sins…which is more important: to confess our sins, to repent of our sins, or to forsake our sins? Right now, in your personal walk with the Lord, are you able to devote enough time to obtain victory in each of these areas of Christianity? If not, what can you do?’
5. The law and the prophets. Do you find in Nehemiah 9 a story of the blessings and problems of God’s people through the years of their wandering in the wilderness? Aren’t you glad you belong to a church that never wanders? never faces problems? always obeys God? What? Your church does have problems, many of them like those faced by the Israelites? What can you and I do about them?
6. Praise and Petition. At the close of the “prayer of confession,” what petition do God’s people raise to Him? Would you describe the condition of God’s people at this time to be one of trouble and tribulation? Why must they suffer? Aren’t you glad that God’s people today have no trials, no overwhelming temptations, no cause for suffering? That’s not how it is? Is God ready to respond to all of our needs? How can we be sure? Or can we? 

Amen!(0)

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This week we ask 
“Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive”, Hymn 299 and 
“Hymn 412, “Cover With His Life” as we have a forgiving God. We are so thankful that 
“He Hideth My Soul”, Hymn 520. Finally in Nehemiah 9:3, the people worshipped the Lord: 
Hymn 6, “O Worship the Lord”, and 
Hymn 83, “O Worship the King”.

In Monday’s study, prayer is the focus: 
Hymn 478, “Sweet Hour of Prayer”, Hymn 501,
“Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer” and 
Hymn 658, “Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer”.

The confession of our sins (Tuesday), shows that
 “Jesus Saves”, Hymn 340.

The confessions of the people on Wednesday show that Israel had forsaken God’s law and His prophets: 
Hymn 413, “God Has Spoken by His Prophets”.

In the closing part of the prayer, the people turned to praising God: 
Hymn 1, “Praise to the Lord”, Hymn 4,
“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”, Hymn 14,
“Let Us Praise the Name of the Lord”, Hymn 20,
“O Praise Ye the Lord”, Hymn 25,
“Praise the Lord His Glories Show” to name just a few of the many hymns that sing praises to our God.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(4)

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