The book of Nehemiah is only 13 chapters, but two of the longest chapters are nine and ten, which follow the reading of the Scriptures by Ezra. And these two chapters are around the confession of sin by the Israelites. If you have the time, it is worth reading these chapters.

One of the things about the discipline of reading the Scriptures is that we are reminded of God’s teachings and our deep sinfulness. Here is the picture in Nehemiah 9:1-3: On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.

Notice the connection between their worship of God and their confession of sin. Worship and confession are intertwined because to worship God is to commit to bringing our lives into alignment with Him. It is not possible to call oneself a follower of Jesus if we are not also committed to following His teaching. Even those parts of it that we find inconvenient. 

We worship an awesome and holy and supreme God. Here is the start of the prayer that the Israelites were led in. “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” (Nehemiah 9:5-6). 

Yet the Israelites, like you and I, often don’t give ourselves wholly to the great God we worship. What follows is a long description of God’s goodness and the people’s disobedience. And then in Chapter ten, the people make a binding agreement with God which involves naming their sins, abandoning those sins and committing to new practices that align with God.

This is what the Christian life is about. It is dying to our sin and living for Jesus. To die to sin is to recognize where we intentionally or unintentionally have not followed Him and then to bring our lives into alignment with His teaching. The Biblical concept of repentance is not simply to be sorry for our sin but it is to choose to turn from our sin and choose light over darkness, righteousness over unrighteousness. This is very much a part of what it means to worship God. Take some time today to consider those areas where your life is not in alignment with His teaching and commit to a repentance that leads to change.

Father, I confess that there are areas of life where my life is not in alignment with your will. I confess my disobedience and declare to you that I want to live in obedience. Would the Holy Spirit give me the will and power to do what is right and reject what is wrong. Amen.