91 Now on the twenty-fourth e day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting , in sackcloth and with dirt upon them. 2 The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners e , and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers . 3 While they stood in their place , they read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day ; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God .
4 Now on the Levites' platform stood Jeshua , Bani , Kadmiel , Shebaniah , Bunni , Sherebiah , Bani and Chenani , and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God . 5 Then the Levites , Jeshua , Kadmiel , Bani , Hashabneiah , Sherebiah , Hodiah , Shebaniah and Pethahiah , said , "Arise , bless the Lord your God forever e and ever ! O may Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise ! 6 " You alone are the Lord . You have made the heavens , The heaven of heavens with all their host , The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You. 7 "You are the Lord God , Who chose Abram And brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees , And gave him the name Abraham . 8 "You found his heart faithful before You, And made a covenant with him To give him the land of the Canaanite , Of the Hittite and the Amorite , Of the Perizzite , the Jebusite and the Girgashite - To give it to his descendants . And You have fulfilled Your promise , For You are righteous . 9 " You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt , And heard their cry by the Red e Sea . 10 "Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh , Against all his servants and all the people of his land ; For You knew that they acted arrogantly toward them, And made a name for Yourself as it is this day . 11 " You divided the sea before them, So they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground ; And their pursuers You hurled into the depths , Like a stone into raging waters . 12 "And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day , And with a pillar of fire by night To light for them the way In which they were to go . 13 "Then You came down on Mount Sinai , And spoke with them from heaven ; You gave them just ordinances and true laws , Good statutes and commandments . 14 "So You made known to them Your holy sabbath , And laid down for them commandments , statutes and law , Through Your servant Moses . 15 "You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger , You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst , And You told them to enter in order to possess The land which You swore e to give them. 16 "But they, our fathers , acted arrogantly ; They became e stubborn e and would not listen to Your commandments . 17 "They refused to listen , And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became e stubborn e and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt . But You are a God of forgiveness , Gracious and compassionate , Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness ; And You did not forsake them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 9:1-17
Commentary on Nehemiah 9:1-3
(Read Nehemiah 9:1-3)
The word will direct and quicken prayer, for by it the Spirit helps our infirmities in prayer. The careful study of God's word will more and more discover to us our own sinfulness, and the plenteousness of his salvation; thus it calls us to mourn for sin, and to rejoice in him. Every discovery of the truth of God, should render us more unwearied in attendance on his sacred word, and on his worship.
Commentary on Nehemiah 9:4-38
(Read Nehemiah 9:4-38)
The summary of their prayers we have here upon record. Much more, no doubt, was said. Whatever ability we have to do any thing in the way of duty, we are to serve and glorify God according to the utmost of it. When confessing our sins, it is good to notice the mercies of God, that we may be the more humbled and ashamed. The dealings of the Lord showed his goodness and long-suffering, and the hardness of their hearts. The testimony of the prophets was the testimony of the Spirit in the prophets, and it was the Spirit of Christ in them. They spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and what they said is to be received accordingly. The result was, wonder at the Lord's mercies, and the feeling that sin had brought them to their present state, from which nothing but unmerited love could rescue them. And is not their conduct a specimen of human nature? Let us study the history of our land, and our own history. Let us recollect our advantages from childhood, and ask what were our first returns? Let us frequently do so, that we may be kept humble, thankful, and watchful. Let all remember that pride and obstinacy are sins which ruin the soul. But it is often as hard to persuade the broken-hearted to hope, as formerly it was to bring them to fear. Is this thy case? Behold this sweet promise, A God ready to pardon! Instead of keeping away from God under a sense of unworthiness, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. He is a God ready to pardon.