Nehemiah 9 NLT
On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the Lord their God with loud voices. (1-4)
This is what it looks like when people are hungry for God. This is what happens when people are unified, unpretentious, and truly put their relationship with God as the number one pressing need of the moment…
- The people assembled: While this was an intensely personal event in the lives of these returned exiles, their collective repentance demanded corporate worship. God wants us to worship Him both personally and corporately, and one is not a substitute for the other. Personal worship and corporate worship are very different and one must understand the “how, why, and when” of each, but they are still of equal importance.
- The people fasted, dressed in burlap, and sprinkled dust on their heads: The people were focused and they were contrite. Fasting is an inward discipline that points you towards prayer and your need of God, and the “burlap and dust” were simply outward signs of their humility and repentance. In short, they cared more about what God thought than what others thought and their focus was completely on Him.
- The people focused on holiness: There was a separation from those who were not of Israeli descent and they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors.
- They loved the word of God: For three hours… I need to repeat that, FOR THREE HOURS, they stood and listened to the word of God read and preached to them. They had a respect for the word of God and they showed it through their discipline, their humility, and their concentration. Many of us are ready for revolt if the preacher goes beyond 12 P.M. That is not the mindset of someone who is hungry for God and who loves His word.
- They confessed their sins, they worshipped the Lord and they showed emotion: Hear me clearly that I am not advocating “emotionalism.” Many make a great show of emotion but there is no genuine repentance in the heart. Tears are not the evidence of spirituality; yet, it was clear that these people were broken and they were willing to stay as long as it took to worship, to repent, and to get right with God. The condition of the heart that leads one to confession and worship, without concern for others or time, is the kind of condition we all must long for.
When you look at this true story of people who were hungry to know God and be right with Him, how does your day-to-day walk with Jesus compare?
