5/19/25

Nehemiah 9:2-3 NASB95 The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. While they stood in their place, they read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

How far we have fallen from the importance of confession. We attempt to hide our sin from the ones the Lord has given to help us out of it. We see in this example that the Israelites didn't confess to those who were against God (separated themselves from all foreigners). They also didn't confess just to the priest as some encourage. However, they did confess to the congregation of the followers of God (stood and confessed their sins). They even sought forgiveness for how far they had fallen from God in the times of the fathers (iniquities of their fathers). The reason they did this was so the congregation of the followers could assist and hold them accountable in their efforts not to sin but to follow God.

They assisted by studying the word of God, confessing and worshipping the Lord together. One of the reasons we struggle so much is that the followers of God (the church) have given up their authority to hold accountable and encourage repentance, reconciliation, and growth in Christ for our brothers and sisters.

Let me encourage us today, use your local church to support you in overcoming your worldly and sinful struggles. Use the local church to support you in succeeding in growing in your worship and understanding of the Lord. God, through Nehemiah, encouraged this. Then, later, when Nehemiah realized that they had fallen away, he used discipline to bring about repentance and reconciliation within the body of believers and with God.

This is God's design, and His design is always RIGHTeous!

Love Bro. Scott