Nehemiah 9:26-30: a reflection

26“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies. 27Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who saved them out of the hands of their adversaries. 28But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore you left them in the hands of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies, 29and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they were arrogant, and didn’t listen to your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances (which if a man does, he shall live in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear. 30Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.

This part of a great prayer of confession rehearses a long, painful cycle in Israel's history. Again and again, the people rebelled, cast God's law behind their backs, and even killed the prophets sent to call them back. And again and again, when trouble came and they cried out, God heard from heaven and, according to his great mercies, sent them deliverers. Then, once they had rest, they returned to their sin, and the cycle began again.

What stands out most is God's astonishing patience. Many years you bore with them, the prayer says, and warned them by your Spirit through the prophets. Despite repeated rebellion, God did not give up on his people quickly; he kept sending mercy, kept sending warnings, kept sending deliverers, long past the point where patience might have run out. The history of Israel is, in one sense, a history of human unfaithfulness, but even more it is a history of God's relentless, long-suffering mercy.

This is both humbling and reassuring. Humbling, because we see ourselves in that cycle, quick to cry out in trouble and quick to drift once things are comfortable again. Reassuring, because it reveals a God whose patience with his people is remarkable, who keeps calling us back long after we might expect him to give up. Do not presume on his patience, but do take heart in it. If you have wandered back into old patterns, the God who bore with Israel for generations is patient with you still, and ready to receive you when you return.

Lord, your people rebelled again and again, yet for many years you bore with them, sending mercy, warnings, and deliverers long past the point patience might have failed. I see myself in that cycle, quick to cry out in trouble and quick to drift when comfortable. Thank you for your remarkable patience. Keep me from presuming on it, and receive me again when I return, as you always received your people. Amen.