We have behaved corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that You gave Your servant Moses. We have acted very corruptlyThe Hebrew root for "corruptly" is "שָׁחַת" (shachath), which conveys a sense of moral decay and destruction. This phrase acknowledges the depth of Israel's sin, emphasizing not just a minor infraction but a profound deviation from God's standards. Historically, this reflects the period of the Babylonian exile, where the Israelites faced the consequences of their persistent disobedience. Nehemiah's confession is a collective acknowledgment of the nation's failure, serving as a model for sincere repentance. against You
This phrase highlights the personal nature of sin as an offense against God Himself. It underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where disobedience is not merely a breach of law but a betrayal of a divine relationship. Theologically, it reminds believers that sin is ultimately an affront to God's holiness and sovereignty. and have not kept
The Hebrew word "שָׁמַר" (shamar) means to guard, keep, or observe. This implies a failure to protect and uphold the divine instructions given by God. In the context of Nehemiah, it reflects the neglect of spiritual vigilance and the consequences of straying from God's path. For contemporary believers, it serves as a call to diligently guard their faith and practice. the commandments, statutes, and ordinances
These terms collectively refer to the comprehensive body of divine law given to Israel. "Commandments" (מִצְוֹת, mitzvot) are direct orders from God, "statutes" (חֻקִּים, chukim) are decrees that may not be fully understood but are to be obeyed, and "ordinances" (מִשְׁפָּטִים, mishpatim) are judgments or legal decisions. This triad emphasizes the fullness of God's law, covering moral, ceremonial, and civil aspects. Historically, these laws were central to Israel's identity and relationship with God, and their neglect led to national calamity. that You gave Your servant Moses
This phrase roots the law in the historical and divine revelation at Sinai, where Moses received the law directly from God. Moses, as God's servant, is a mediator of the covenant, and his role underscores the divine authority and origin of the law. For Nehemiah, invoking Moses connects the present generation with their spiritual heritage and the enduring relevance of God's commandments. It serves as a reminder of the continuity of God's promises and expectations throughout generations. Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahA Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah is the central figure in the book. He is deeply concerned about the welfare of Jerusalem and its people. 2. JerusalemThe city of Jerusalem is in ruins during Nehemiah's time, symbolizing the spiritual and physical desolation of the Jewish people. 3. MosesThe servant of God who received the Law, including commandments, statutes, and ordinances, which the Israelites were to follow. 4. The IsraelitesThe people of God who have strayed from His commandments, leading to their current state of distress and exile. 5. GodThe covenant-keeping God who gave the Law to Moses and desires obedience from His people. Teaching Points Acknowledgment of SinNehemiah's confession highlights the importance of recognizing and admitting our sins before God. True repentance begins with acknowledging where we have gone astray. The Importance of God's LawThe reference to commandments, statutes, and ordinances underscores the need for believers to know and adhere to God's Word. It serves as a guide for righteous living. Corporate ResponsibilityNehemiah's prayer includes himself in the sins of the nation, teaching us about the importance of intercessory prayer and taking responsibility for the spiritual state of our communities. God's FaithfulnessDespite the people's unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His covenant. This encourages us to trust in God's promises and seek His forgiveness and restoration. Restoration through ObedienceThe path to restoration involves returning to God's commandments and living in obedience. This is a call to align our lives with God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Nehemiah's confession in verse 7 reflect the broader theme of repentance found throughout Scripture? 2. In what ways can we identify with Nehemiah's acknowledgment of corporate sin in our own communities or nations today? 3. How does understanding the original Hebrew terms for "commandments," "statutes," and "ordinances" deepen our appreciation for God's law? 4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are living in obedience to God's Word, as emphasized in Nehemiah 1:7? 5. How can the themes of confession and restoration in Nehemiah 1:7 inspire us to pray for and work towards spiritual renewal in our own lives and communities? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 28This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, providing context for the consequences faced by the Israelites in Nehemiah's time. Daniel 9Daniel's prayer of confession parallels Nehemiah's, as both acknowledge the sins of their people and seek God's mercy. Psalm 119This psalm emphasizes the importance of God's commandments, statutes, and ordinances, which Nehemiah references in his confession. People Hachaliah, Hanani, Israelites, NehemiahPlaces Jerusalem, SusaTopics Acted, Command, Commanded, Commandedst, Commandments, Commands, Corruptly, Dealt, Decisions, Decrees, Judgments, Kept, Laws, Obeyed, Orders, Ordinances, Perversely, Rules, Servant, Statutes, Wickedly, WrongDictionary of Bible Themes Nehemiah 1:4-7 8604 prayer, response to God Nehemiah 1:4-11 6655 forgiveness, application
8618 prayerfulness Nehemiah 1:5-7 6624 confession, of sin Nehemiah 1:6-8 7160 servants of the Lord Nehemiah 1:6-9 6746 sanctification, means and results Nehemiah 1:7-9 8404 commands, in OT Library The Church and Social Evils
'It came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.'--NEH. i. 4. Ninety years had passed since the returning exiles had arrived at Jerusalem. They had encountered many difficulties which had marred their progress and cooled their enthusiasm. The Temple, indeed, was rebuilt, but Jerusalem lay in ruins, and its walls remained as they had been left, by Nebuchadnezzar's siege, some century and a half before. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Reformer's Schooling
'The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Nehemiah, the Praying Builder
We care not for your splendid abilities as a minister, or your natural endowment as an orator before men. We are sure that the truth of the matter is this: No one will or can command success and become a real praying soul unless intense application is the price. I am even now convinced that the difference between the saints like Wesley, Fletcher, Edwards, Brainerd, Bramwell, Bounds, and ourselves is energy, perseverance, invincible determination to succeed or die in the attempt. God help us.--Rev. …
Edward M. Bounds—Prayer and Praying Men Discouragements and Courage
'Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. 10. And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. 11. And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. 12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
The Median wars--The last native dynasties of Egypt--The Eastern world on the eve of the Macedonian conquest. [Drawn by Boudier, from one of the sarcophagi of Sidon, now in the Museum of St. Irene. The vignette, which is by Faucher-Gudin, represents the sitting cyno-cephalus of Nectanebo I., now in the Egyptian Museum at the Vatican.] Darius appears to have formed this project of conquest immediately after his first victories, when his initial attempts to institute satrapies had taught him not …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9 A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Nehemiah 1:7 NIVNehemiah 1:7 NLTNehemiah 1:7 ESVNehemiah 1:7 NASBNehemiah 1:7 KJV
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