August – September 2026: The Book of Nehemiah
The Book of Nehemiah is a riveting tale of someone being called by God to do something amazing – and then doing it! Nehemiah is a wonderful character, full of faith, wisdom and practical common sense. Let’s journey with him over the next few weeks, and be inspired by his example.
Epilogue 1, Wednesday 23rd September – Psalm 98 ‘The work of salvation’
Nehemiah finished with prayers of remembering. Let’s enjoy a few more days in the ‘psalms of remembering’:
‘Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing: power and majesty, praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. I sing for joy at the work of your hands.’
Some of you will recognise those words as the chorus of one of the most popular worship songs of the last thirty years: ‘My Jesus, my Saviour.’ They’re taken directly from the verses of this psalm (v4, then vv7-8, then v1). And yet, these words were written hundreds of years before Jesus – which begs a useful question: what is ‘the work of God’s hands’ being referred to here? What ‘salvation is being made known’?
The psalm itself doesn’t tell us, but by and large whenever the Old Testament writers – especially the psalmists and prophets – refer to a saving act which God has already done, they’re usually referring to the miraculous rescue from Egypt, especially the two saving acts of Passover and the Crossing of the Red Sea. These were acts of literal salvation which decisively showed the Israelites that this God was their God, and they were his people.
The annual Passover celebration instituted from that moment reminded every generation of what God had done, and instructed the people to ‘make that salvation known’ (v2) afresh. They are called to remember, even as God remembers his love (v3).
But God’s saving work didn’t end at a point in history. God continued to rescue his people: in the time of Gideon, or David, or Hezekiah, and even after exile through the courage of Esther. God always remembers his love for his people.
And so we fast forward several centuries to a new Passover, a new Crossing from certain death to promised life – this time seen on a cross and then in an empty tomb. A new marvellous work of God, whose holy arm works salvation. Our God is the same: yesterday, today and forever. He continues to save, and Jesus is the true and greatest fulfilment of this psalm of praise. What was enacted for a particular people at the Red Sea was enacted for all people for all time at Calvary. There Jesus revealed God’s righteousness to the nations, so that all the ends of the earth might see the salvation of our God.
So it is quite right for that famous song to put Jesus at the heart of this psalm. And perhaps, if we know it, we too can sing the song in response. Let us sing a new song today, and be inspired to make his salvation known wherever God grants us the chance.
Loving Lord, I sing for joy at the work of your hands. Thank you that you always remember your love for me. Help me to abide in that love, and know your continuing saving work in my life. Amen.
Day 25, Tuesday 22nd September – Nehemiah 13:23-31 ‘Remember me, my God’
Every November we have our season of remembrance. It begins with All Saints Day on the 1st – a chance to remember the global church – moves through Bonfire Night and concludes with Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, when we remember the impact of war, and rededicate ourselves to the cause of peace. Remembering is important, and necessary; it forms a major theme of scripture. Time and again, God’s people are called to remember – their God, their history, their unfaithfulness, God’s faithfulness – because our memory is our identity.
What’s interesting, though, is that it’s not always one-way traffic. In fact, in the Psalms, the great ‘book of remembering,’ there are more references to God remembering us (16) than the other way round (11). God, of course, unlike us does not have a problem with memory – but calling this to mind serves in the Psalms as both a wonderful affirmation of faith, and a heartfelt prayer.
Perhaps it is no surprise to find Nehemiah concluding his own story in similar terms. As we observed a couple of days ago, chapter 13 is a sobering way to finish the tale, and what punctuates this last part of the story is that simple prayer: ‘Remember me, my God.’ Nehemiah increasingly feels like King Cnut, endlessly trying to push back the unstoppable tide of disobedience and spiritual apathy. After all his endeavours, all he can cry out is: ‘Remember me, my God.’
I think the pattern of these prayers is significant, too. Someone once observed to me that most people start as Arminians and end up as Calvinists; it’s a posh way of saying that when we’re young, we think faith is all about us, about how much we can do for the Lord. As we get older though, increasingly we realise how reliant we are on the grace of God. We become – painfully and joyfully – conscious that it’s all grace. It’s not about us, it’s about God.
Nehemiah’s final reflections seem to follow this pattern. Look how they start: (v14) ‘Remember me for… what I have so faithfully done.’ Then (v22): ‘Remember me… show mercy to me according to your great love.’ And finally, here in the last verse, a simple cry from the heart: ‘Remember me with favour, my God.’ I’ve done all I can, but in the end, it’s all you.
It bears a striking resemblance to the prayer of the thief on the cross: ‘Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.’ Yet, the contrast between the two couldn’t be greater, could it? The thief who had nothing to offer Jesus but this one prayer; and Nehemiah who had lived a life of outstanding service and great achievement. In their last words, though, the only way they can truly approach God is exactly the same: ‘Remember me, my God.’ It’s all grace. It’s all about God, and not about us.
It’s a good way to finish this story, isn’t it? After all the exploits, Nehemiah is not ultimately a book about Nehemiah, it’s a book about God. As we’ve seen throughout, Nehemiah’s great life relied on God’s grace and was lived in humility. He finished how he started.
May this be the pattern of our life’s journey, too. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish. ‘Remember me, my God.’ Because it’s not about me; it’s all about you. Amen.
Day 24, Monday 21st September – Nehemiah 13:15-22 ‘Respecting the Sabbath’
We live in a workaholic society. Take the Enlightenment dogma of continuous progress, mix with a subtle blend of the Protestant work ethic, add a sprinkling of consumerist worship at the altar of customer entitlement, shake thoroughly and hey presto! A fabulous modernist cocktail. And, like a cocktail, tasty as it seems at the time, drink too many and you’ll pay for it in the end.
Teaching on the value of sabbath has never been more important, or harder to achieve. It’s tempting to think, though, that it ‘must’ have been easier in ancient times. Not so; although at first reading today’s passage appears as yet another example of ‘silly’ disobedience on the part of God’s people – they know what they needed to do, they just didn’t do it – look below the surface and this fragile community were facing serious pressures. Imagine leaving Babylon – the largest and wealthiest empire in the world – to set up business again in Israel: chances are business was tough, the large and lucrative markets weren’t there, especially with hostile nations around them. No wonder they were tempted to open on the Sabbath; to do seven days of business rather than six.
It’s so easy to think like that, isn’t it? But to do so misses the ultimate point of Sabbath: it is not just about rest (though that is vital and fundamental), it’s about trust. We stop for a day, trusting God to provide for our needs. We refuse to believe the appealing little lie that our success in life depends entirely on our own efforts. We remind ourselves that we are not our own gods, and joyfully submit to the one true God, who graciously and lovingly provides what we need.
This is what Nehemiah was so worked up about; we might see his response as an over-reaction, but Nehemiah knew his history: (v18) ‘Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.’ The Sabbath, almost more than any other commandment, was a touchstone of the people’s relationship with the Lord – precisely because it indicated how much they were trusting Him. Hence the extreme measures Nehemiah took to preserve it (vv19-21).
As we reflect today, let’s return to those Sabbath themes of rest and trust. Which speaks to you? Where is the Lord nudging you toward renewal in your life? And let’s use the words of Nehemiah’s simple prayer as our response: (v22) ‘Remember me… my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.’ Amen.
Saturday 19th September – John 1:29-34 ‘Deeply dipped’
Following our reflection yesterday on the need for inner transformation to effect real and deep change, we conclude our week revisiting a passage in John on the same theme:
Every so often an innovation comes along which changes the game. The product remains the same, but once this innovation is launched, what was once perfectly acceptable is no longer adequate. Think graphite tennis rackets replacing wooden ones at the end of the 70s/early 80s. Think the iPhone being launched in 2007. It’s still the same thing, but at the same time entirely different.
In the journey of faith, the coming of Christ produces the same effect. It’s still the same God we worship – yesterday, today and forever – but the New Covenant gives us direct access to this God in a new way. And the sign and seal of this deeper, more intimate relationship with God is baptism. The word means ‘dipped’, but as the passage makes clear we need two ‘dippings’. John baptism was with water (v26, v31, v33) – a baptism of cleansing and repentance. An external sign of an inward attitude – profound, yes; important, certainly; but with no power in itself to change the heart. It relied on human effort to achieve the intention.
Jesus comes, though, with a game-changer. Jesus will baptise – ‘dip’ – us with the Spirit (v33). In other words, the presence of God coming into our hearts, the power of His love transforming us from the inside out. It’s a game-changer.
And what held true then still holds true today. We all need both baptisms – of water and Spirit – but it is the latter which empowers us day by day. Water baptism is about initiation. Spirit baptism is about intimacy. And the great news is that this intimacy is available to all believers, everywhere, every day. It’s not a one-off, but a continuous flow of the water of life into our hearts.
It also casts us back to God’s grace. It’s so easy for us to try and rely solely on our efforts and good intentions. But even one of the great holy people – John the Baptist – knew that it wasn’t enough. We need to be deeply dipped in God’s Spirit.
So today, give thanks that you are not alone, your walk with God does not depend all on your own efforts. What a relief! And pray to be filled – dipped – again in the love, presence and power of God by the Holy Spirit.
Day 23, Friday 18th September – Nehemiah 13:1-14 ‘Promises, promises’
People can’t obey God.
Or at least, not all of the time, or even most of the time. You could say that, ‘People can’t obey God’ is a pretty good summary of the whole Old Testament, certainly its history books. Renewal is only ever temporary, things usually go back to how they were after a while. Nothing new under the sun.
As one commentator put it quite bluntly, the book of Nehemiah ends less with a bang and more with a whimper. After the high point of the dedication of chapter 12, and indeed the reforms which renovated the contributions and tithes to sustain the worshipping life of the people, it’s downhill all the way in chapter 13 – or rather, more of a bumpy ride.
One of the other reforms enacted by Nehemiah starts ch13: the commitment not to intermarry with other races. If this seems unduly separatist – especially remembering that Ruth, King David’s great-grandmother, was from Moab – then what follows underlines why it mattered. The Lord’s prohibition on intermarriage was not some sort of closet racism, it was the pragmatic recognition that intimately sharing other worldviews would undermine the faithfulness of God’s people.
So it proved here: as soon as Nehemiah was called back to Babylon, after 12 years of unstinting service (v6), the new priest in charge of the storerooms gave over much of the space to Nehemiah’s old enemy, Tobiah (vv4-5). The result was corruption on a grand scale: offerings and tithes were diverted (v5); the Levites and musicians weren’t provided for, and therefore went back to working the land (v10); as a result, presumably, the worshipping life of the Jews was also ‘neglected’ (v11).
It’s a sorry tale of how quickly spiritual growth can peter out, if we choose to disobey God’s clearly revealed will. Back we go down the mountain again. Nehemiah returns, however, and once more sets things right: (v8) Tobiah is thrown out (again); (v9) the rooms are purified (again); (v12) the tithes restarted (again); and (v13) new leaders appointed to make sure that this time it’s done properly. It’s a remarkable testimony, once more, to Nehemiah’s resilience, faithfulness and leadership ability.
Chapter 13 reminds us that, great as Nehemiah was, a human leader can only ever effect temporary change. We need Someone who can transform us from the inside out, to make that kind of renewal permanent. That’s never mentioned in these pages – but it’s a powerful lesson we take (implicitly) from this wonderful little book.
As we reflect today, let’s acknowledge that the people in these pages are so like us; let’s give thanks that we have an eternal leader, even greater than Nehemiah – the Lord Jesus Christ – on whom we can fix our eyes every day; and let’s resolve to keep living the life, empowered by the grace of the only One who can truly transform us. Amen.
Day 22, Thursday 17th September – Nehemiah 12:44-47 ‘The gift of worship’
Strictly speaking, I don’t earn anything at all. I haven’t done for 16 years now.
What ministers get paid is called a ‘stipend’ rather than a ‘salary’. It’s easy to forget why this matters. I’ve often caught myself referring to my role in ways that suggest I earn a wage: if someone thanks me, I’ll make a joke along the lines of, ‘it’s kind of you to say that, but I get paid to do this!’ The thing is, though, I don’t. A stipend is an allowance which ministers are granted precisely so that they don’t have to earn a ‘wage’ – they can dedicate themselves to leading the people of God.
It’s a subtle distinction, but its implications are profound, on multiple levels. First, it makes it clear that the minister’s own spiritual life sits at the heart of what they ‘do’. We are led by God, so that we can lead people to God. Second, it reminds us that the work of God is not a transaction, but a calling. This applies to everyone, at one level – we are all called in different ways. Ministers, though, are appointed and provided for in a way which places that calling at the very centre of their work.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, it is about grace. Life is gift. All we are, and have, is a gift from God. We live in a way which reflects this: a grace-filled, gift-soaked life. In this case, we give generously to the community life of God’s people, in order that our ministers can give their time and energy back to God, and to us, in order to lead us in the life and worship of that community. We don’t pay ‘subs to a club’ – we gift our money, that others might gift their time back to us. It’s all gift – or should be!
This practice has deep roots – it goes right back to the very earliest history of God’s people. The Law given to Moses sets up the system to provide for Israel’s leaders of worship – and it this which Nehemiah makes sure is put back in place, now that Jerusalem is functioning as a city (and a worship centre) again: (v44) ‘contributions, firstfruits and tithes’ to provide for the priests and Levites (their ministers), as well as the musicians and gatekeepers (their worship leaders and vergers).
It’s worth noting that many of these people could earn their own money if they had to – they had fields to cultivate and, as we’ll see tomorrow, when the ‘stipends’ weren’t paid, they went back to them in order to earn their keep (13:10). But the contributions of the people, if given faithfully, ensured they didn’t need to: they could dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their calling.
This Sunday at church is Stewardship Sunday – a moment in the year when we think about our financial generosity. It’s tempting to encourage people in pragmatic terms: ‘give x to the church, and the church can do y with it’; or, dare I say, ‘give us more, or we’ll close!’ To do so might ‘work’ at some level, but it’s not the point, at least not how God had originally designed it. Life is gift – God gives generously to us, that we might give generously to others, that they might give generously back to us. The natural result of living like this would be ‘praise and thanksgiving to God’ (v46).
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live like that?
Day 21, Wednesday 16th September – Nehemiah 12:27-43 ‘Days of celebration’
There is something wonderful about worshipping the Lord in a large gathering. I first experienced that powerfully at Easter 1999, when I attended Spring Harvest. Walking into the Big Top for the first evening celebration and realising there were 5,000 people there gave me goosebumps. I had never praised God in such a large crowd, and it was thrilling. People from all over the country, all walks of life, here for the sole purpose of worshipping the Lord… a foretaste of heaven.
That kind of gathering – and maybe you have enjoyed something similar – is a good way into today’s passage. At long last, we get to the big party! The wall is dedicated, an occasion which drew people from across the country: the Levites ‘were sought out from where they lived’ (v27); the musicians likewise (v28); the leaders of Judah were all there (v31) and were assigned the task of organising a procession along the top of the wall, along with massed choirs – one heading clockwise, the other anti-clockwise (vv31-39). When they met at the other sides they headed to the temple area for a combined celebration (v40): what a moment that must have been! All the toil and the tears, the worry and the work; now they could give thanks to the Lord who had inspired and overseen it all.
It is very much in character that Nehemiah should have ensured this celebration took place. David Pawson insightfully reflects that Nehemiah ‘was a happy man and encouraged others to be happy. It was Nehemiah who said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” I don’t think Ezra would ever have said that – he was too busy weeping over the people. In many ways they make a perfect couple. The “help” and the “comfort” belong together.’ As evidence, Pawson reminds us that when the Law was read by Ezra (ch8), ‘Ezra saw the situation as a time to weep, but Nehemiah was telling them to have a party’ (see 8:9-10).
The point is: we need both. Life is hard. The fact that it is hard means we do our fair share of weeping; but it also means that times of rejoicing and celebration become more important than ever. We all need days like the one described in this passage. Special occasions to celebrate and to praise the Lord, above and beyond the normal points of our worshipping life – where ‘the sound of rejoicing… could be heard far away’ (v43). It is not a form of denial that life still has its challenges – we’ll see plenty of those in ch13. It does, however, place those challenges in context, in the wider perspective of the continuing grace and faithfulness of God.
We may not have the chance for such a celebration today – but we can echo praise in our hearts, trusting that the Lord will likewise grant us a divinely-given joy, which is our strength – for this day, and every day.
Day 20, Tuesday 15th September – Nehemiah 11:21-12:26 ‘A people of promise’
What are you like with lists? Did you find todays passage a fascinating journey through some exotic names and even more exotic places? Or a dreary trawl through meaningless information?
The bible is full of lists; and we’ve already seen several big lists in this little book so far: ch3, ch7, ch10 and even yesterday in the first half of ch11. This list, however, is a bit different, since it is probably an insertion into the book. The narrative runs smoothly from 11:20 to 12:27, so what is this additional ‘sub-list’ doing here?
The answer is that this little section connects the story of Nehemiah with the bigger biblical story. One of the key themes of scripture, and especially of the Old Testament, is God’s faithfulness to his promises and to his people. The people, in contrast, are often faithless, but they cling on to the faithfulness of the Lord. The list of settlers we looked at yesterday is also found in 1 Chronicles 9:2-17 – albeit not in the same format and with some different names, so presumably both were drawn from some bigger list, perhaps kept in the archives at Jerusalem.
Chronicles is all about the faithfulness of God, and the expectancy of the fulfilment of his promises. When was Israel going to be restored? What does a faithful covenant people look like? As Nehemiah records what looks like a dry list of names in 11:1-20, it triggers a memory in a later compiler (it’s clear that this small section isn’t written in the time of Nehemiah by the reference to him in the third person in 12:26, as well as the reference to Darius – see below). This is the story of the people of promise – a people still waiting for their deliverance.
There are two interesting details which would escape our notice without the help of the scholars. The first is that the towns of Judah referenced in 11:25-34 cover a wider area than the actual province of Judah at the time. This might be considered ‘wishful thinking’ – more likely, it is a declaration of faith and hope that the land would one day be fully restored.
Second, the inclusion of the priests who returned with Zerubbabel decades before Ezra and Nehemiah (12:1-21), as well as those in the time of ‘Darius the Persian’ (v22, probably Darius II who ruled a couple of decades after Nehemiah) – in other words a period of more than 100 years – makes it clear that this list has a theological significance. This is the record of faithful worship and service rendered to the Lord over generations, as is testified by the reference to praise and thanksgiving in 12:24.
God is not done with his people yet; nor, from this list, are the people done with God. Nehemiah is ultimately a book about spiritual renewal, and not just a textbook for wise leadership and project management; about worship, and not just a wall. Today, take a few moments to offer your own ‘praise and thanksgiving’ to our amazing, faithful God; and commit yourself again to serve this Lord in this generation, as our spiritual ancestors did in theirs.
Day 19, Monday 14th September – Nehemiah 11:1-20 ‘National lot-tery’
That title got your attention, didn’t it? A reflection on the National Lottery? Well, yes, in fact – the original national lottery: today’s passage describes those families who were chosen to settle in Jerusalem. The method for selection was casting lots, and those included were drawn from across the country – hence national lottery. Imagine neighbours looking at each other as the lots were drawn, thinking: it could be you?!
Let’s rewind a little: after the completion of the wall and the renewing of the covenant, there still remained a very practical problem – not enough people were actually living in Jerusalem to make it defensible or indeed to serve as a true capital. Fresh blood was needed, which could only be derived from other parts of the country. The leaders led by example – v1 tells us that they settled in Jerusalem regardless. However, more families were needed. How to choose? They cast lots.
If this seems strange, a bit of biblical context is useful at this point. Casting lots is a frequently mentioned practice in scripture, going all the way back to the giving of the law (first mentioned in Leviticus 16:8). The worldview of the Old Testament is that God is in control of everything, everything happens according to His will, and thus God allows the Israelites to cast lots in order to determine His will for a particular situation. Indeed, Joshua used the practice numerous times to allocate the land in the original settlement hundreds of years previously; so, it was the natural solution for the people of Nehemiah’s day.
Not surprisingly, those who were chosen and obeyed the decision were ‘commended’ for doing so (v2) – presumably very few of them would have chosen to leave their ancestral land and their community connections. By faith they understood, though, that it was the will of the Lord.
The practice of casting lots continues throughout scripture right up to the choosing of Matthias as the new twelfth apostle just before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:26). It is noteworthy, however, that this is the last mention of the practice: once the Spirit is poured out on all believers, we no longer need such methods to make decisions; we can be guided into all truth (John 16:13). We can also observe that the practice, once stripped of its religious motives, quickly became associated with gambling – most soberingly at the foot of the cross, where the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing.
You probably didn’t find this passage the most thrilling read – but there is a profound point lying under the surface. This seemingly random process led to a dramatic life change for thousands of people; all faithful, all trusting the Lord – and yet called to something they probably didn’t wish or expect. God’s will surprised them, and they must have journeyed to Jerusalem with all their belongings, faced with a clear choice: to trust and obey, or to resent and complain. Perhaps you have faced a similar moment in life, when you sense that God has shut one door you wished had remained open, and maybe opened another that you didn’t really want. Perhaps you find yourself in this place now. The call to trust suddenly seems painful. Yet, the message of scripture is that all such trust is rewarded: God always repays. If you find yourself in unexpected territory, pray for grace to accept, even to embrace – the Lord works all things to good for those who love him. Amen.
Day 18, Saturday 12th September – Nehemiah 9:38-10:39 ‘The power of God’s Word (4) – Commitment’
‘In view of all this…’ And so, we get to the heart of the prayer. After a long and detailed confession of the people’s rebellious ways, their repentance is manifested in a ‘binding agreement’, witnessed by their spiritual leaders (10:1-27). True conviction and confession always ends in commitment.
Indeed, the word repentance, which we often equate to ‘saying sorry’, really means ‘change your life’. For the people of Nehemiah’s day, this was reflected in a series of very practical commitments relating to marriage (v30), Sabbath (v31), resourcing their worshipping life properly (vv32-34), and generosity (vv35-39). All core components of the Law, which were often neglected but which were integral to their distinctiveness (i.e. holiness) as the chosen people of the one true God, Yahweh.
Although it is rare for us to make detailed practical commitments in our confession prayers, we do reflect those intentions in a general sense in many of our standard prayers:
‘Grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your name.’
‘That we may act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you, our God.’
Or, to return to the prayer we quoted a few days ago: ‘Grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name.’
As close our week, and this shorter reflection, take a few minutes to reflect on what repentance looks like for you today. Maybe it’s not a case of making specific commitments; or maybe there might be value in doing so – as long as we hold fast to the Lord’s grace, and live in freedom rather than condemnation.
What we do understand at a much deeper level than those praying this prayer more than 2,000 years ago, is that this kind of transformation can only be achieved by the Holy Spirit working in us. So, as we choose to serve the Lord today, pray for a fresh infilling of grace, poured out by the Holy Spirit, to live out your commitments. And in all things may we abide in Him, bearing much fruit, to the glory of His name. Amen.
Day 17, Friday 11th September – Nehemiah 9:26-37 ‘Cycles of sin… and grace’
Someone once said that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s certainly a decent definition of human nature. We do the same thing over and over, intending to change… only to find the cycle repeating again.
The second part the people’s great prayer of confession, which we’re covering today, certainly makes that very clear. Time and again God blesses the people; time and again they turn away and disobey, bringing disaster on themselves in the process; at which point they return to God, who mercifully forgives and blesses them once more… only for the people to disobey, and so the cycle repeats again.
This pattern has been evident throughout the history of God’s people. The Book of Judges is probably the most sobering read in the bible, precisely for this reason. Every time a Judge is raised up by God and rescues a wayward people, they soon turn back to their wicked ways – leading them to cry out again to God… and so on, and so on.
700 years after the time of the Judges, it seems the penny has finally dropped. The people in Nehemiah’s time not only make this amazing prayer to God, they also give a wonderful summary of the story of God’s people – a story of disobedience and grace. Now they find themselves again at the bottom of the cycle (vv36-37) – but they know who the Lord is, they understand his character: (v32) ‘the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love.’ They ask God to be gracious again; to rescue and restore them again, trusting in this great God who ‘delivered them time after time’ (v28).
Today, we may feel that we make this kind of prayer so often. A repeating cycle – can God possibly forgive this time? The answer is yes – not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His mercy always triumphs over the judgement we deserve.
Today, seize that truth again, and claim the forgiveness which none of us merit, but the Lord graciously bestows upon us. And may we live in the kindness of this God, reflecting that kindness to others. Amen.
Day 16, Thursday 10th September – Nehemiah 9:1-25 ‘The power of God’s Word (3) – Confession’
Confession is good for the soul.
It’s also a practice which has become increasingly unfashionable in modern culture, where the word sin is often seen as an outdated concept. If there is such a thing as sin, it’s something like not being true to yourself – whatever that means!
The primary issue, of course, is that sin is a word which finds its meaning and importance in relation to God. It is a spiritual problem and not just a moral or ethical or ‘lifestyle’ one. As society has secularised, so we find ways around it: different language, alternative categories… or we blame our genes or our experiences (and those are influences, but not justifications). This is in stark contrast to our pre-modern culture. Consider the words of the confession in the Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against thy holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done. And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders; spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults, restore thou them that are penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord; and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
That is the standard confession at both Morning and Evening prayer. In other words, a devout Anglican in years gone by would have said this twice a day, or up to fourteen times a week, or as many as 730 times a year! As my old vicar used to say, when you say the prayer book confessions, you are properly confessed.
Taking confession seriously, however, is not a question of fashion, it lies rooted in scripture. Our passage for today is the first part of an immense act of confession (which lasts all the way to the end of chapter 10). It is a significant moment, and therefore at one level, not ‘normal’ – it involved fasting and changes to the peoples’ appearance (v1), as well as a distinction between the original chosen people and those who had joined the community (v2). It took a long time (v3) and was led by a large number of leaders (vv4-5).
But, it was also setting a benchmark which was normative from this point on. God’s people were going to try and obey God – this great God who made everything (vv5-6), had chosen them (vv7-8), saved them (vv7-11), led them (v12), spoken to them (vv13-15), forgiven them (v17), taught them (v20), provided for them (vv20-21) and blessed them (vv22-26).
Tomorrow, we’ll see how the repeating pattern of sin, disaster, repentance and renewal pave the way for a renewal of this covenant. Today, though, let’s marvel at God’s love, patience and mercy – lavished not just on the Israelites, but us. And may that lead us into both gratitude and confession, and ultimately to a renewed life which brings glory to ‘thy holy Name’. Amen.
Wednesday 9th September – John 16:7-11 ‘Deep conviction’
Since we looked at the biblical idea of ‘conviction’ yesterday, today is another reflection from John’s gospel on that theme:
July 25th 1982. Just a normal Sunday. I went to church with my family, to (what we then called) the Family Service. My Dad was giving the talk, about Jesus meeting Nicodemus in John chapter 3. It was the days of Overhead Projectors (OHPs – remember them?!), and he showed this acetate of a wooden cross. When he got to the text, ‘Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,’ he overlaid a second acetate with a picture of a snake, which was now wrapped around the cross. Then he completed the verse: ‘so the Son of Man must lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’
At this point, he removed the snake and instead placed a third acetate over the cross – this time of Jesus. And suddenly I understood. Jesus had died for me. Not just for the world, for me. I was no more or less religiously-minded than most children; the chief attraction of church on Sundays was playing football in the church hall after the service! But at that moment, just before my tenth birthday, I knew something profound had happened. I prayed directly to Jesus, I think perhaps for the first time; and I made a mental note to remember that day, because on that day my life changed.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but I still remember that family service from over forty years ago. And what I experienced is what countless others have through the ages, and what Jesus speaks about in today’s passage. I came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Conviction is more than just revelation. The modern NIV translation renders it ‘prove the world to be in the wrong,’ but that doesn’t quite cut it either. Conviction is revelation which fundamentally touches our hearts and changes our mind. It compels us to change. What others experience as ‘just words’ seem to be given specifically and directly to us, to transform our lives immediately.
This is the work of the Holy Spirit. In particular, the Holy Spirit will convict people in regard to ‘sin and righteousness and judgement’ (v8). If this sounds negative – where’s the love of Jesus, or the peace that comes from knowing him, you might be thinking? – then we should never forget that we need a Saviour. Without sin there’s no grace. Without grace, there’s no gospel, no good news. We only truly understand the love of Jesus when we know what he has saved us from. We only truly know the peace of Jesus when we fully grasp that, because of Jesus, God’s just judgement has been fulfilled and ‘the prince of this world now stands condemned’ (v11). Whatever we face in this life, our future is secure.
I can’t explain why it was that day in 1982 when the Holy Spirit first deeply convicted me. I’m sure people were praying! But this I know – it was real, and true, and good. It’s what the Holy Spirit does, and is still doing, all around the world, every day, every minute. Today, let’s give thanks for our own journeys, those moments of conviction in our lives. And let’s also pray with faith for that same conviction to be at work in those we love, and those we’ll never meet. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Day 15, Tuesday 8th September – Nehemiah 8:9-18 ‘The power of God’s Word (2) – Conviction’
God’s word has a power all of its own. The bible is full of references to its own efficacy: think of Isaiah 55:11 – ‘my word does not return to me empty’ – or Hebrews 4:12 – ‘the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword… it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’
No surprise, then, that a whole morning of listening to scripture produced a profound effect on the large crowd gathered by the Water Gate (and let’s note in passing that they were not meeting in the temple area, just in a large square by the city limits – a reminder that God’s people can gather anywhere to meet with the Lord, and God’s word can have its effect anywhere, too.) This profound effect is a work of God’s Spirit and is what Jesus later called ‘conviction’ (John 16:8).
Conviction is more than just understanding; it is revelation which fundamentally touches our hearts and changes our mind, compelling us to change. What others experience as ‘just words’ seem to be given specifically and directly to us, to transform our lives immediately. For the people gathered listening to Ezra, this was experienced both as sadness and joy: the deep realisation of just how far they had fallen short of God’s plan for their lives led them to weep (v9); the encouragement that the Lord in his mercy and grace had given them a fresh start, and renewed their lives and their community, led into joy and celebration (v12).
Indeed, in v10 of this passage, we get the famous phrase – which nobody ever remembers is in Nehemiah, of all places! – ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ There’s a phrase to fill our hearts today.
Conviction, though, also requires more than just our emotions and resolutions; it requires action. It is one thing to know we need to change; it is another to actually try and do it. In this case, the people realised that a major festival required by the Law was not being celebrated (v17) – and they were in the exact season in which they should be celebrating it (v14). So, they acted: they made shelters, and, for the first time in generations, celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. By the way, this is now known as Sukkot and is still practised annually today – in 2026 it will be commemorated from 25th September until 2nd October.
We’ve come a long way from repairing a wall, haven’t we? This chapter conveys some of the energy, the passion, which was stirring God’s people, as they rediscovered who they were. We, too, need regularly to ‘rediscover’ who we are in Christ; to be gripped again by the power of God’s word, and the conviction of His Spirit. Maybe that’s a word for you today; or maybe it’s to reflect: where is God’s word particularly speaking to you at the moment? Either way, pray for grace to act on your convictions; and may the joy of the Lord always be your strength, this day and every day. Amen.
Day 14, Monday 7th September – Nehemiah 7:73-8:8 ‘The power of God’s Word (1) – Clarity’
What does a society need to thrive? It’s a question we ask ourselves a lot nowadays. Despite rapid advances in technology, medicine and global infrastructure, many cultures seem stuck in a slow but steady downward spiral. It’s a question which also lies at the heart of Nehemiah’s great work. As we have observed, this was always about more than a wall. It was the renewal of a nation.
By the start of chapter 8, a huge amount has been achieved – the defences are more or less secure, leaders have been appointed, and a great programme of resettlement has been started… but something crucial is missing. It is this that Nehemiah and the Jews’ spiritual leaders attend to next, and it forms the heart of the next section of this remarkable book.
For centuries, Israel had a pattern of festivals: centred in Jerusalem, these were designed for the whole people to spend time worshipping the Lord together. Since the exile more than a century previously, such festivals had been largely abandoned. However, about fourteen years before Nehemiah, Ezra the priest had arrived in Jerusalem and begun the process of spiritual renewal. (We haven’t mentioned Ezra much, but it’s worth noting that these two books belong together – and rightly so, as Ezra means ‘help’ and Nehemiah means ‘comfort’. Nehemiah is effectively the second half of the ‘renewal story’.) Ezra’s work was groundbreaking, but without a secure city its scope was limited. Now it was possible to be more ambitious: so, come the autumn of Nehemiah’s first year (‘the seventh month’ is roughly September), the first great gathering took place.
The heart of this gathering was the public reading of scripture to the whole assembly (v3). Ezra the priest read from daybreak until noon, while the people listened. There are some key details which should not escape us: first the initiative came from the people. This is not ‘religion imposed from above’ – the people ‘told Ezra’ to read the bible to them! Our engagement with scripture begins with enthusiasm to hear and receive it.
Second, there is something special about studying the bible together, corporately. Of course, there is great value in personal study – I wouldn’t be writing these reflections otherwise! – but the word of God also needs to be read publicly, to reach a whole people.
Third, this study takes place best in an environment of worship and adoration (see v6). It is not just an exercise of the head – though our minds must be similarly devoted – it is an exercise of the heart: ‘Amen! Amen!’
Alongside this reading came explanation: (v8) ‘making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.’ The task of Israel’s spiritual leaders was not just to read scripture but to teach it – to bring clarity. How we need this today! To return to our initial question, many have wondered if we have become like the people of Amos’ time: a culture which suffers a ‘famine of hearing the words of the Lord’ (Amos 8:11). Into this vacuum comes not only secular worldviews, but – perhaps more dangerously – distortions of a truly biblical worldview, where the word of God is distorted to serve a purpose. The only ‘cure’ for this is to immerse ourselves in scripture again: to sit under it in humility, rather than over it in judgement, and to experience the true renovation of the heart which comes as a result.
Today, let’s finish with the great prayer for the Second Sunday in Advent – written by Cranmer in the 1540s but just as needed today: ‘Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.’
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