Nehemiah 9:31-38: a reflection

31“Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you didn’t make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God. 32Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness, don’t let all the travail seem little before you that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day. 33However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly. 34Also our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law, nor listened to your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them. 35For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them. They didn’t turn from their wicked works. 36“Behold, we are servants today, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat its fruit and its good, behold, we are servants in it. 37It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. Also they have power over our bodies and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. 38Yet for all this, we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, and our priests, seal it.”

This passage is part of a great prayer of confession, and it is striking for its honesty. The people do not make excuses; they own their sin plainly: You have been just in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. They acknowledge that the trouble that has come on them is deserved, that God has been just and they have been in the wrong. And yet, in the same breath, they rest on God's mercy: in your great mercies you did not make an end of them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

Notice the two things held together in this confession: honest ownership of sin, and confidence in God's mercy. The people do not minimize their guilt or blame their circumstances; they confess plainly that God was just and they did wickedly. But neither do they despair; they hold onto the mercy of a gracious and merciful God, who did not make a full end of them. Honest confession and hope in mercy go together; they own the sin fully, and rest on the mercy fully.

That is the shape of true confession, and a model for our own. We can be tempted to one side or the other: to minimize our sin, making excuses and blaming our circumstances rather than owning it; or to despair over it, as though it were beyond mercy. But true confession does both: it owns the sin honestly, agreeing that God is just, while resting on his mercy. When you confess your sin to God, do not minimize it or make excuses; own it plainly, as these people did, agreeing that God is just. But do not despair either; rest on the mercy of a gracious and merciful God, who does not make a full end of those who come to him. Confess honestly, and hope in mercy; hold both together, as this prayer does, owning your sin and resting on the God who is gracious and merciful.

Lord, in this prayer of confession the people owned their sin plainly, you have been just in all that has come upon us, but we have acted wickedly, and yet rested on your mercy, for you are a gracious and merciful God who did not make an end of them. Teach me that shape of true confession. I can be tempted to one side or the other: to minimize my sin, making excuses and blaming my circumstances rather than owning it; or to despair over it, as though it were beyond mercy. But true confession does both: it owns the sin honestly, agreeing that you are just, while resting on your mercy. When I confess my sin to you, keep me from minimizing it or making excuses; help me own it plainly, as these people did, agreeing that you are just. But keep me from despair too; help me rest on your mercy, gracious and merciful, who does not make a full end of those who come to you. Help me confess honestly and hope in mercy, holding both together, owning my sin and resting on you, Lord, who are gracious and merciful.