Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons Nehemiah 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks… These words — I. PREFER AN IMPORTANT CHARGE. "And refused to obey," etc. Though this charge was primarily brought against the Jews, it is substantially applicable to all impenitent sinners. Here is — 1. A charge of obstinate disobedience. We are guilty of the same charge. We are under infinite obligations to the Divine Being. He is the Creator, Sovereign, Benefactor, Redeemer, Saviour, and Judge of mankind. 2. A charge of criminal forgetfulness. "Neither were mindful of Thy wonders, (Psalm 78:10-17; Psalm 106:21-26). God has crowned each of us with loving-kindness and tender mercies, and wrought wonders in our creation, preservation, redemption, and salvation. We have too often unfaithfully forgotten His innumerable benefits, and ungratefully murmured against His kind dispensations (Isaiah 1:2, 3). 3. A charge of hardened impenitence. "But hardened their necks,". etc. This is an awful state (Proverbs 29:1; Romans 2:5, 6; Hebrews 3:15). II. CONTAIN A GRACIOUS DECLARATION. "Thou art a God ready to pardon." This is manifest from — 1. The perfections of the Divine character. 2. The glorious scheme of human redemption (Isaiah 53:5, 6; Romans 3:25, 26; 2 Corinthians 5:18, 21). 3. The testimonies and promises of Scripture. III. SUGGEST APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION. (Sketches of Four Hundred Sermons.) Parallel Verses KJV: And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. |
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