Do something about it!

I'd like to ask, as I have before at times, that we read our focus passage and then begin our study . . . if you would, I would appreciate it.
We will be studying the ninth chapter of Nehemiah this week -- take a few moments and read through it, and then rejoin us? Or perhaps if you haven't had your prayer time yet today, make the ninth chapter your verses for the day.

I'm hoping that the study of this chapter will bring blessings to someone.
Let's dive in!
In chapter eight of Nehemiah, the people heard God's Word read and wept in repentance -- they realized how seriously they and their forefathers had strayed and sinned. But it was time for an important feast in the life of the nation, and Nehemiah and the other religious leaders encouraged the people to stop weeping and rejoice; they told them to be compassionate to others; and they exhorted them to find strength in the joy of the Lord.
A few days after the feast we find the people gathered again -- this time they are fasting, wearing sackcloth, and covered in ashes and dirt -- they are expressing their grief over their sins. The Word of God is read to them again, and prayer is offered to God. Special emphasis is laid on the many times that God has been gracious to the sinful nation.
What's the one word that can sum up the way the people felt?
Guilty.
The dictionary says, "Having or showing a sense of guilt."
"Feelings of responsibility and remorse."
And it's actually a good thing. It can make us motivated to change. Motivated to do things differently. Make positive changes in our lives.
But it can be taken too far, no?
Some people become so overwhelmed with guilt that they are incapacitated.....

Nehemiah and the religious leaders knew that, and they had a strategy. They knew that there was a fine line between repentance and stagnation. They wanted to encourage the people to take an accounting, to determine to change, and then to move forward.
I think their strategy will work in our lives today, too.
The first step is to pray. Next, think about (even write down a list, maybe) the times God has been merciful. Third, study verses that show His mercy and grace. Lastly, move forward!
Now that we have a plan, let's look back at the ninth chapter of Nehemiah . . .

Feeling guilt is not new. It's not abnormal.
We are SO prone to sin.
The chapter we are studying doesn't just list the sins of the people -- it's worse than that! It rehearses the sins of God's people in the face of His tremendous mercy and grace. It's one thing to sin repeatedly if you don't know God; it's even more puzzling to sin repeatedly when we have tasted God's love.....but we all fall in the trap, don't we?
Even knowing our own bent to sin, and our past failures, it is easy to read this account of Israel's repeated sins in the face of God's mercy and think, "Wow, how ungrateful! How could they keep doing that?" "How could they be so shortsighted and be so hardhearted, too?" After all, every time that they needed Him, He was there! Every time that they slipped into sin, He presented them with a way out. Miracles? He used those, too. But after a time of sweet fellowship and joy, they would go off on their merry way and forget about the covenant God Who loved them.
It's also easy to read this chapter and think that it describes the people around us -- and not us. "How can my sister/brother/friend be so prone to sin?" What we should do is to read this chapter and realize one thing: it's like looking in a mirror!
One of my favorite hymns is a good reminder of this: "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love ....." (from Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing).
This long prayer of confession, this ninth chapter of Nehemiah, flowed directly from the extended reading and consideration of the Word of God. It's the Word that works with the Spirit to reveal the true condition of our hearts, because sin blinds us.

 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

Not only does sin deceive us, but as human beings, we are prone to compare ourselves to others. It often makes us feel better about ourselves.....

4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, (Galatians 6:4)

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. (II Corinthians 10:12)

We are so prone to sin. We may not realize it, but we are so like the Hebrew people; we can see ourselves in Nehemiah 9. Even when we have experienced God's salvation and His abundant blessings, it is easy for us to fall prey to the world, to the things that would pull us away from Him. We repeat the cycle again and again, just as Israel did. We cry out; He delivers us. We forget and slip away.
It's interesting that the longer we walk with God, the more we become aware of the depravity of our hearts. The closer we walk with Him, and the more we focus on being like Him, the more we are aware of our sinfulness.
This should keep us at the foot of the cross.
This should remind us to trust in His grace.
This should spur us to prayer, both to seek forgiveness of sins and to seek His hedge about us as we live in this world.
Prayer is the first step in our strategy against overwhelming guilt.
Join me tomorrow as we outline our next steps?