1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Study Headquarters 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: dot com. You're listening to the Chapter a Day Audio Bible. 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: I'm John Stangey, and today we're in Neemiah chapter nine, 5 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: and we'll be reading from the contemporary English version. On 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: the twenty fourth day of the seventh month, the people 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: of Israel went without eating, and they dressed in sackcloth 8 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,519 Speaker 1: and threw dirt on their heads to show their sorrow. 9 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: They refused to let foreigners join them as they met 10 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: to confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 11 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: For three hours they stood and listened to the law 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 1: of the Lord their God. And then for the next 13 00:00:49,520 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: three hours they confess their sins and worship the Lord. Joshua, Bonnie, Cadmel, Sheebiniyah, Boonie, Shaabiah, Banni, 14 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: and Chennani stood on their special platform for the Levites 15 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 1: and prayed aloud to the Lord their God. Then the 16 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: Levites Jeshua, Cadmel, Bonni, Hashibneah, Sheabiah, Hodiah, Shehebiniah, and Pethahiah said, 17 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,279 Speaker 1: stand and shout praises to your Lord, the Eternal God 18 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: praise his wonderful name. Though he is greater than words 19 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 1: can express. You alone are the Lord, creator of the 20 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: heavens and all the stars, creator of the earth and 21 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: those who live on it, Creator of the ocean and 22 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: all its creatures. You are the source of life, praised 23 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: by the stars that fill the heavens. You are the Lord, 24 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: our God, the one who chose Abram. You brought him 25 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: from Er in Babylonia and named him Abraham. Because he 26 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 1: was faithful. You made an agreement to give his descent Indians, 27 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: the land of the Canaanites and Hiddites, and of the 28 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: Amorites and Parizites, and of the Jebusites and Gegeshites. Now 29 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: you have kept your promise, just as you always do. 30 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 1: When our ancestors were in Egypt, you saw their suffering, 31 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: when they were at the Red Sea, you heard their 32 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 1: cry for help. You knew that the king of Egypt 33 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: and his officials and his nation had mistreated your people. 34 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: So you worked fearsome miracles against the Egyptians and earned 35 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: a reputation that still remains. You divided the deep sea, 36 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: and your people walked through on dry land, but you 37 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: tossed their enemies in and they sank down like a 38 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 1: heavy stone. Each day you led your people with a 39 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: thick cloud, and at night you showed the way with 40 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: a flaming fire. At Sinai, you came down from heaven, 41 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: and you gave your people good laws and teachings that 42 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: are fair and honest. You commanded them to respect your 43 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: holy Sabbath, and you instructed your servant Moses to teach 44 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: them your laws. When they were hungry, you sent bread 45 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: from heaven, and when they were thirsty, you let water 46 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: flow from a rock. Then you commanded them to capture 47 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: the land that you had solemnly promised. Our stubborn ancestors 48 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: refused to obey. They forgot about the miracles you had 49 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: worked for them, and they were determined to return to 50 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: Egypt and become slaves again. But our God, you are 51 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: merciful and quick to forgive. You are loving, kind and 52 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: very patient. So you never turned away from them, not 53 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: even when they made an idol shaped like a calf 54 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: and insulted you by claiming this is the god who 55 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: rescued us from Egypt. Because of your great mercy, you 56 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 1: never abandoned them in the desert, and you always guided 57 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: them with a cloud by day and a fire at night. 58 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: Your gentles spirit instructed them, and you gave them manna 59 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: to eat and water to drink. You took good care 60 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: of them, and for forty years they never lacked a thing. 61 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: Their shoes didn't wear out, and their feet were never swollen. 62 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 1: You let them conquer kings and take their land, including 63 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 1: King Sihan of Heshban and King Og of Bashan. You 64 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: brought them into the land that you had promised their ancestors, 65 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: and you blessed their nation with people that outnumbered the 66 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: stars in the sky. Then their descendants conquered the land. 67 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 1: You helped them defeat the kings and nations and treat 68 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: their enemies however they wished. They captured strong cities and 69 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,600 Speaker 1: rich farmland. They took furnished houses, as well as cisterns, vineyards, 70 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: olive orchards, and numerous fruit trees. They ate till they 71 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: were satisfied, and they celebrated your abundant blessings. In spite 72 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: of this, they rebelled and disobeyed your laws. They killed 73 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: your prophets who warned them to turn back to you, 74 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: and they cursed your name. So you handed them over 75 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: to their enemies who treated them terribly. But in their sufferings, 76 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: they begged you to help from heaven. You listened to 77 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: their prayers, and because of your great mercy, you sent 78 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: leaders to rescue them. But when they were at peace, 79 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 1: they would turn against you and you would hand them 80 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: over to their enemies. Then they would beg for help, 81 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 1: and because you are merciful, you rescued them over and 82 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: over again. You warn them to turn back and discover 83 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: true life by obeying your laws, but they stubbornly refused 84 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: and continued to sin for years. You were patient, and 85 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: your spirit warned them with messages spoken by your prophets. 86 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: Still they refused to listen, and you handed them over 87 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: to their enemies. But you are merciful and kind, and 88 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: so you never forgot them or let them be destroyed. 89 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: Our God, you are powerful, fearsome, and faithful, always true 90 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: to your word. So please keep in mind the terrible 91 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: sufferings of our people, kings, leaders, priests, and prophets. From 92 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: the time Assyria ruled until this very day, You have 93 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: always been fair when you punished us for our sins. 94 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 1: Our kings, leaders and priests have never obeyed your commands 95 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: or heeded your warnings. You bless them with a kingdom 96 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: and with an abundance of rich, fertile land, but they 97 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,000 Speaker 1: refuse to worship you or turn from their evil. Now 98 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,600 Speaker 1: we are slaves in this fruitful land you gave to 99 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: our ancestors. Its plentiful harvest is taken by kings you 100 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: placed over us because of our sins. Our suffering is 101 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: unbearable because they do as they wish to us and 102 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: our livestock. And so a firm agreement was made that 103 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: had the official approval of the leaders, the life evites 104 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: and priests. Let's pray, Lord, we thank you for your word, 105 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: and we thank you for the privilege of being able 106 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: to look at it today. And Lord, this is such 107 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,800 Speaker 1: a beautiful portion of scripture that we've had the privilege 108 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: to read together as the people confess and repent before you, 109 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: as they acknowledge their sin and seek your forgiveness and 110 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: your restoration and your help. And Lord, we know that 111 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: this is a pattern that you want us to emulate 112 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,239 Speaker 1: as well. You invite us to confess our sin before 113 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: you and to seek your forgiveness and to recognize our 114 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 1: need for your rescue, and ultimately you provide that rescue 115 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: through your son Jesus Christ, who took our sins upon 116 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: himself and then defeated sin, satan, and death when he 117 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: rose from the grave. And now through faith in Jesus, 118 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: we are cleansed of our sin and our relationship with 119 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 1: you is completely restored. But Lord, we know that in 120 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: the midst of our journey on this earth, there are 121 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: times that we dabble our feet or our hands in sin, 122 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: and we still need to come before you and confess 123 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: and repent of those things, seeking your cleansing. But knowing 124 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: Lord that we're completely forgiven through Jesus Christ. So we 125 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: thank you for these things, and we thank you that 126 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: you are kind and merciful, and that you welcome us 127 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: into your presence, even though we know that by nature 128 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: we don't deserve that kind of blessing. But Lord, we're 129 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: grateful as well that you're present with us today, and 130 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: we commit this day to your care, and thank you 131 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: for all of these things in Jesus' name. Amen.