The Great Contrast

Benenz Hitchcock

Stand alone • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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Introduction

‌If there is one thing that I have found out being a father, it is the need for continual repentance. Many times I am reminded through parenting of my shortcomings, my failures, my rash reactions, and my impatience. All this to say that I need to be repentant before my children. But most importantly, I have failed to live as Christ would have in those moments. I have sinned against my children, but far more so and much more grievously to the Lord of heaven. It is during these moments that repentance is necessary, not to the children only, but to God.

‌And, yet, here I stand ready and excited for the next time that I have the opportunity to love my children as Christ loves me when they sin against me, because ultimately they do not sin against me, but they sin against the One who created them and I have the privilege to steer them in Christlikeness.

‌This is what we see in the text set before us this morning. There was sin that was occuring within the camp toward each other. This sin did not stay within the camp. The sin that occured over a multitude of generations was directly offensive against God.

‌Please turn with me to Nehemiah 9:32-38. As you are turning there, I would like you to notice the many similarities and parallels that mimic the scripture reading as we will see in this summary of a summary. Before we dig into the text, it is essential that we get a little of the historical context. This will help us see our text in Nehemiah 9 more clearly. The significance of this chapter begins in Nehemiah 8 with Ezra reading the law. This was a time that “all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate with great gladness” (Neh. 8.12). They did so because their eyes had been opened to who God is and to who they are. Israel was reminded that God is gracious, yet holy (8.6). In 8.6, Israel is also greatly convicted of their sin. Why? Well, first Ezra read the law in their hearing, but 2. James Montgomery Boice (former pastor at Tenth Presbyterian in Philadelphia) wrote, “The Levites read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.” This causes them to be found weeping because of their sin in accordance to the holy law of God. Another important piece of context that sheds light on chapter 9 is the bringing back of the Feast of Booths. This was last celebrated during the days of Joshua (8.17). The Feast of Booths is found in Lev. 23.34. This occurred 5 days after the Day of Atonement. This feast was a joyous feast. It served a two-fold purpose…1. It was part of the feasts that reminded Israel that they were, at one time, slaves in Egypt, and 2. “because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether glad” (Deut. 16.15). It is after all of these events that we find our text in Nehemiah 9. Let's read verses 32-38. I have titled this sermon: The Great Contrast due to what we will see regarding God’s ways and our ways. In this text my desire for us this morning is to see three things; 1. Who God is, 2. Who We are, and 3. A Great Reformation.

Who God Is

‌Let us begin in verse 32. First, let’s notice that the people of Israel begin by setting God apart from the gods of the peoples around them. We see the personal relationship between God and man. The text says, “our God.” Who are they talking about? Jehovah. The same God who was with their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the same God that after the Egyptians were defeated, promised Israel, “Yahweh your God will give them over before you and will throw them (surrounding nations) into great confusion until they are destroyed. And He will give their kings into your hand so that you will make their name perish from under heaven” (Deut. 7.23-24). This is encouraging to Israel at this time, as they are under significant hardship (v.32).

So, who is God? Our text tells us that God is mighty and awesome. When we think of God, is this what we think of? Do we think of God as mighty and awesome during times of trouble and difficulty? Consider the time of the Judges. Judges 2:16-18 says, “Then Yahweh raised up judges who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges either, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of Yahweh; they did not do as their fathers. Now when Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for Yahweh was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and suppressed them.” Notice, how God overcomes those who plundered Israel. We see this numerous times when they are taken over by the Philistines (Judges 10-15). If God can overcome those over His people when they are captive, surely, He can overcome any circumstance. Now, does this mean that God takes care of our every situation the way that we want, like a genie in a bottle? Of course not! The means by which God works is that which gives Him the glory. Remember Lazarus? When Lazarus is sick, Jesus chooses to wait two extra days before coming to see him. Why is this? John 11.4 tells us why. “But when Jesus heard this (Lazarus being sick), He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” So, yes, God is mighty and awesome, however it is only at His perusal.

God is a keeper of covenants and He is full of lovingkindness towards His people. Remember the covenants of the Old Testament? How God made a covenant with Abraham and that covenant was passed down to Isaac and Jacob? And we see the promised remnant that is the church. God made a covenant with Moses, that He would not completely destroy the Israelites. And He kept it, by faithfully leading them into the promised land. Regarding lovingkindness, consider the familiar passage found in Romans 5.8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Every one of us who is in this room, who has trusted in Christ, we rejoice!

Next, this text tells us that God is righteous and just in all that has come upon Israel. Look at verse 33. All that Israel had done regarding their sins against God was worthy of God's punishment. The great contrast we find between God and man is found in this verse. God deals truthfully and Israel did not. This was true of Israel and it is true of us isn't it? If you were honest with yourself, you would respond with a resounding YES! More into who we are later. The word truth in verse 33 is used in terms of God's faithfulness and reliability (Lexham Bible Dictionary). Listen to Psalm 119:137-138, “Righteous are You, O Yahweh, and upright are your judgments. In righteousness, You have commanded your testimonies and in exceeding faithfulness.”

God is the abundant giver of all good things. Look at verse 35. What is fascinating here is the foreknowledge of God! Turn to Deuteronomy 31:19-21 (Read text). As you're turning there, we have seen the righteousness of God and His just ways with Israel so far and here we will notice His kindness toward His people amidst their iniquity. Furthermore, God abundantly gives to them knowing far in advance that they WILL SIN AGAINST HIM! This truth is the same for us. The Lord Jesus Christ came way down to this planet, to ruined sinners, lived a humiliating life, died a gruesome death, and rose again victorious over sin for you and for me. He did all of this knowing that we would continue to sin against Him, even as redeemed creatures. What a gracious and kind God we serve!

Who We Are

‌Let us move, now, to who we are. Here, we will see the great contrast as we. First, we are subject to hardship. This is due, only, by our sin that we do. Interestingly, in our text, we see it pointed out generation by generation. It says that the priests, prophets, fathers, and all the people of Israel. No one is excused in the Israelite lineage. This hardship refers to almost 200 years of slavery (724-538 BC) slavery which we will look into shortly.

Next, we act wickedly. Before we move further, this word wickedly or wicked does not refer to a bad deed or a wrong that we commit against someone else. No! This word refers to acting ungodly. This is far more severe. Yes, Israel sinned often, but here there were those in the Israelite camp that were not counted among the righteous. I believe the Bible shows that the majority of Israel were ungodly people. This is similar to the nation we live in today, isn't it? Consider Isaiah 1:4 and 6:5 “Alas, sinful nation, people heavy with iniquity, seed of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel; they have become estranged from Him…And I live among a people of unclean lips.” May it be said of us that we are people who shine as we are washed and renewed by the living word of God.

Verse 34 puts the ungodliness into practice. How did Israel and people today act? People today do not pay mind to the statutes of God and they do not listen to their conscience. They suppress the truth in unrighteousness, there is no care or consideration for God or anything that He has revealed in His Word, and therefore there is no fear of God in them. Furthermore, in verse 35, the people of Israel were guilty of not serving God and performing evil acts. We considered earlier, the worship of other gods in Judges. 1 Kings 11:31-33 says, “And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes, but he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, because they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My sight and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as his father David did.”” It did not take Israel long to forsake Yahweh. The same is true of the US. This country has only been around for a few hundred years, we founded by men some of whom were godly and yet, look at how quickly it has gone awry from its founding.

The current nation of Israel that is living in the land promised in verses 36 and 37 acknowledges the sin that has led them to the place they dwell. Again, today we reap what it is that we sow. At this years Ligonier National Conference Steve Lawson answered a question about generational reaping and sowing, he said, “We are reaping the sins of 40, 30, 20 years ago.” In our text this is recognized by Israel. It takes more than just knowing that we are reaping sin, but what is the proper response? We will look at this next.

A Great Reformation

‌Finally, let’s look at verse 38. We see three things here, 1. What is about to occur is due to the great sins of the people and, even, those who went before them; 2. They are cutting an agreement (or taking an oath); and 3. Those who were trustworthy sealed this oath. The agreement (covenant) is found in Neh. 10.29. This covenant is almost identical with the one that Josiah made. 2 Kings 23.3says, “Then the king stood by the pillar and cut a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul.” Notice, the similarities between the two of them. They both have in common the outcome of the covenant as well. In both circumstances, “all the people entered into the covenant.”

‌Israel acknowledges the brevity of the sin they committed. They chose not to be idle about their sin, but to act upon it. They committed themselves, at this moment, to no longer be enslaved to former, and current, sin, instead they would commit themselves living for, and unto, Yahweh. This covenant that they made was given in writing. This is significant. The Israelites were willing to be held accountable for the oath that they were going to take. There would be no going back at this point. There was no getting out of this oath. They gave their word. Lastly, the document was sealed. This meant that it would not be tampered with. It signified that this oath was now sealed between the people of Israel and God.

‌As they recalled the sins of their father’s, the Jewish exiles no longer wanted to follow in their footsteps. The summary that we have looked at this morning, was the turning point for the nation of Israel. It started with confession and repentance which would lead them now, to be committed to the Lord; something they had not been for centuries.

Conclusion

‌So, where are you at this morning? Have you recognized your sin, made the about face to it, and committed yourself unto the Lord? If not, I implore you to make today the day of salvation while there is still time. Turn from your sins and trust in Christ as your Savior. For those of us who follow Christ, as we think of the sins that we commit, those that we commit regularly, those that we commit less frequently, and the many that we forget, are we coming back to the Lord often to seek His face in repentance? Now, I am not asking you to consider the sins of your forefathers, but what we see from Israel here is diligence! By the end of this chapter and in chapter 10, Israel is committed to following Yahweh! May it be said of you and I that we are people who are committed to come before the Lord in repentance that we may seek His mercy in our time of need.

Benediction

‌2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually give you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”