As I was studying for Sunday morning’s sermon I came across this
great verse and I want to share it with you in the middle of the week. The verse is found in Nehemiah 9:17.
Nehemiah 9:17 (ESV)
17They refused to obey and were not mindful of
the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and
appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready
to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast
love, and did not forsake them.
The ‘they’ in the verse are the Israelites who did not want
to go into the Promised Land. Instead, they decided they wanted to return to
the bondage of living in Egypt. In the verse, I want you will notice that
Nehemiah states they stiffened or hardened their neck—this refers to their
steadfastness in their commitment to return to Egypt. In fact, they went so far
as to appoint a leader to take them back into bondage. But Nehemiah says the
LORD is ready to forgive. Then he goes on to articulate God’s attributes. God
is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. And He
does not forsake his people.
Let me ask you: Could there be a greater list? He is
forgiving, gracious, merciful, slow to anger, rock solid in his love for His
people and faithful to keep his promises!
What an example he is to me! In fact it is the gospel that
flows out of these attributes. And since it is that gospel that saves me from
hell I must be motivated to apply and live out these attributes with others.
Don’t you think?
