Nehemiah 9

He transcends our weak conceptions, how can our finite understanding comprehend him who is infinite? He is infinitely above all our praises (Nehemiah 9:5). Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

So confession glorifies God, it clears, it acknowledges he is holy and righteous whatever he does. Nehemiah vindicates God's righteousness (Nehemiah 9:33). You are just in all that is brought upon us.

He has not dealt so with any nation, and as for his judgments they have not known them. Nehemiah 9:13. You gave them true laws, good statutes and commandments. What a strange creature would man be, if he had no Law to direct him?

4. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we never make mention of his name but with the highest reverence; God's name is sacred, and it must not be spoken of but with veneration. The Scripture, when it speaks of God, gives him his titles of honor (Genesis 14:20): Blessed be the…

Many noble persons we give titles of honor to, who are sordid and vicious; they do not deserve honor, but God is worthy of honor. Nehemiah 9:5. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessings and praise. He is above all the acclamations and triumphs of the ar…

This was but a type or emblem, to show how God rejoices when a poor sinner comes in, and lays hold of his mercy. What an encouragement is here to believe in God, he is a God of pardons (Nehemiah 9:17). Mercy pleases him (Micah 7:18).

And should not we above all things seek after so great a blessing, a forgiveness. 6. Consideration: that which may make us seek after forgiveness of sin, is God's inclinableness to pardon (Nehemiah 9:17). "You are a God ready to pardon."

But I was more confirmed that the way of Antinomians is for the flesh, not for the Gospel, when I read that Mr. Crispe expounding confession (1 John 1), makes it no humble acknowledging that the sinner in person has sinned, and so is under wrath eternal, if God should judge him;…

If any man say Christ bought these, in regard that by his death, he purchases a dominion over elect and reprobate, that all knees should bow to him, men and Angels (Romans 14:8-9, etc.; Isaiah 45:[reconstructed: 23]; Philippians 2:9-11; John 5:27; Acts 17:31), so that there is a…

(Leviticus 26:40-42) If my people shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, and be humbled, and accept the punishment of their iniquity, then will I remember my covenant, and remember the land. God expects that London should justify him in the severest jud…

And so, 1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. So the word righteousness is very often used in scripture for God's covenant-faithfulness so it is used in Nehemiah 9:8. You have performe…

All the works of God declare his excellency; but the saints will ever be ascribing to God, the benefits they have received from him. So they are spoken of as things, though somewhat alike, yet as distinct; (Nehemiah 9:5) Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all…

It discovers the greatest dangers, and points out the surest way to safety and peace. They are called true laws, and good statutes (Nehemiah 9:13), to show the full proportion that they bear to the soul. Verum and Bonum, truth and goodness, are proper for our most eminent facult…

Mark, they that do wickedly, and the proud, are made synonymous expressions. So (Nehemiah 9:16), But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and listened not to your commandments. Their obstinacy in sin, or unsubjection to God, is made to be pride.

In acts of grace, and in dispensing with the violations of his law, he sometimes makes use of his prerogative, but not in punishing, there he keeps to his law; and therefore it is that the saints do give him the honor of his justice (Daniel 4:7): "O Lord, righteousness belongs t…

(Psalm 119:21) You have rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from your commandments. (Nehemiah 9:16) But our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to his commandments: so (verse 29). These proclaim a war with the Lord of Hosts, especially…

O let us lead blessed lives, and so declare plainly that we seek a country (Hebrews 11:14). Use 4. To you that have any good hope through grace that you have a title to blessedness, let me say as the Levites did to the people (Nehemiah 9:5): Stand up and bless the Lord your God…

Isaiah 60:4: Lift up your eyes round about, and see, all they gather themselves about, they shall come to you: your sons shall come from far, and your sons shall be nourished at your side. Israel marrying and Israel according to the flesh is the holy seed (Nehemiah 7:61; Nehemia…

3. THE third Ingredient in Repentance, is confession of sin. Sorrow is such a vehement passion as will have vent: it vents it self at the eyes by weeping, and at the tongue by confession, (Nehemiah 9:2). The children of Israel stood and confessed their sins, (Hosea 5:15).

the more Faith, the more he bewails his unbelief. 5. An humble man will justify God in an afflicted condition, Nehemiah 9:33. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us.

And it is further to be considered, that where God had formerly afforded the symbols of his gracious presence, given his oracles, and settled his Church, though yet in its [reconstructed: infancy], and much more imperfect state, there he however communicated those influences of…

Here is a firm basis for faith. 2. Goodness, Nehemiah 9.13. Thou gavest them true Laws, good Statutes.

Thirdly, he can justify God in all the afflictions and troubles that come upon him, be they never so severe. 'You are just in all that is brought upon us,' said Nehemiah (Nehemiah 9:33). 'You have punished us less than our iniquities deserve,' said Ezra (Ezra 9:13).

This must be a confession, that a people turned to the Lord are in their iniquities. 2. This is set down as a commendable practice (Ezra 10:1): Ezra confessed and wept (Nehemiah 9:1-2): And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their…

Secondly, in affliction, as faith looks at God, so it looks into itself, it makes a man look into his own heart, and there it finds two things. First, justly deserving whatever the Lord is pleased to try him with, and as much needing whatever affliction befalls us (Nehemiah 9:33…

It opens our eyes to see sins against grace as our greatest sins; no wickedness like to that. Nehemiah 9:27: the deliverers of God's people were called Saviors, and therefore now sinned in this above all our other sins. 1 Samuel 12:13, 19: the spirit of grace looks at sins again…