After about 70 years of exile, God’s people returned to Jerusalem. They began rebuilding their city and preparing a firm covenant that they “would not neglect the house of God” as their ancestors had done.

As they prepare their covenant in Nehemiah 9, we see the Israelites recounting the many wonderful things God had done for their people and how He was gracious and faithful to them even when they were unfaithful to Him.

He had set before them good, life-giving boundaries that they chose to cross time and time again. Their disobedience to and disregard for God and his Word, their refusal to hear and repent, left them suffering and tragically enslaved to the powerful nations who did not regard the LORD and his law.

You can almost imagine a group of people whose families, homes, and livelihoods were ripped apart, their freedom shattered, mourning their sin and its effects...

You can almost hear them reminding themselves of what has proven true over and over...

God is faithful.
He is just.

“However You are just in all that has befallen us;
For You have dealt faithfully,
But we have done wickedly.”
-Nehemiah 9:33 (NKJV)

“Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.”
-Nehemiah 9:36 (ESV)

“You are the Lord, you alone.“
-Nehemiah 9:6a