Prayer in Nehemiah (19)
“And because of all this, we make a sure covenant and write it; our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.” (Nehemiah 9:38, NKJV)
How many times do we find ourselves confessing our sin, only to find ourselves indulging or even mired in it yet again? It reminds us of the argument of why make our beds if we are just going to sleep in them again. What’s the point of confession?
It is true that we will likely commit again the same sins we confess, but true confession stemming from a godly sorrow carries with it a resolution to change. We look not only to repent but also to bring forth fruit in keeping with our repentance. It purposes new obedience.
We see that in force in Nehemiah’s extensive prayer of chapter nine. Listen to his candid, excuseless, abject, sweeping expression of guilt before God. “Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy: do not let all the trouble seem small before You that has come upon us, our kings and our princes, our priests and our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day. However You are just in all that has befallen us; for You have dealt faithfully, but we have done wickedly. Neither our kings nor our princes, our priests nor our fathers, have kept Your law, nor heeded Your commandments and Your testimonies, with which You testified against them. For they have not served You in their kingdom, or in the many good things that You gave them, or in the large and rich land which You set before them; nor did they turn from their wicked works” (Neh. 9:32–35).
Confession does not come with accessories – no excuses, rationalizations, minimalization, euphemisms, or blameshifting. It simply acknowledges the sin and takes ownership of its guilt.
Nehemiah’s closing argument is remarkable in how tidy it is. The sin and its consequence belong to the people alone. He includes himself when says that “we” have acted wickedly. There is no blurring of lines, no bleeding of blame onto the side of the other. Theirs is the sin. God’s is the righteousness, faithfulness, and benefaction. They have no one to blame but themselves for the predicament in which they have found themselves.
We would do well in our own confession of sin to spell it out in stark terms and to lay it out in contrast to God’s character and provision. We don’t confess our sin to a partition. We confess our sin to the face of our God who loves us and receives us and promises never to forsake us.
Nehemiah’s prayer, however, not only highlights the sin of the people, it carries a declaration of recommitment. “And because of all this, we make a sure covenant and write it; our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it” (Neh. 9:38).
Without purpose to new obedience, without pledge to faithfulness, confession of sin is mere lip service. While we may not be surprised to find ourselves sinning again, we cannot find comfort in any confession that does not plan to endeavor not to. Such confession would be double-minded.
The people of Israel found themselves in exile because they had been covenant breakers. Nehemiah has outlined instances of their defiance, disregard, and disobedience in his prayer. But now he pledges that the leaders will lead the people in fidelity to their God.
In his concluding declaration (9:38), Nehemiah uses a typical expression for making (karat) a covenant but he uses a different word for “covenant” than is typical (berith). Rather, he uses a word meaning a binding, written agreement. Perhaps that is in recognition of the covenant relationship being initiated by God and already in force. The “sure covenant” in writing Nehemiah references in prayer is not something new; rather, it testifies to renewal and return to God.
But whatever the case, the people were serious about their sin and serious about their intention. Such should be the case with us every time we confess our sin.
What does Nehemiah’s prayer of confession teach us about prayer in general?
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
