God’s Compassion: Hope for the Sinner
You, in Your great compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness…
Nehemiah 9:19
Nehemiah lived in the time when the Jews were returning to their home land after being taken into captivity by both the Assyrians and the Babylonians. By his time, other nations had taken over, and he was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, a position of complete trust (Nehemiah 2:1). Through the favorable hand of God, Nehemiah gained permission from the king to lead some of the Jews back to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the walls of the city. They faced opposition and threats, yet they persevered. Nehemiah and Ezra led the people in confessing their sin after reading the Law. The confession of both their sin and the sins of their fathers is recorded in Nehemiah 9 and it’s a beautiful demonstration of seeking the compassion of the Lord and remembering His faithfulness in the midst of the distress caused by their own rebellion.
We are in Great Distress
The prayer of Nehemiah 9 ends with these words, “So we are in great distress” (9:37). The beautiful land God had given them, along with its abundant produce, was no longer theirs, but it was possessed by other kings. They themselves were slaves. We would expect that God’s people could cry out to Him if they were in great distress through injustice or an unfortunate turn of events. But what if their suffering had been caused by their own foolishness or sinfulness? What if our distress or our loved one’s distress is a result of reaping what we sow? In Nehemiah 9, the distress they faced had come upon them because they had “acted wickedly” (9:33) and had sinned against God (9:37), and their fathers had repeatedly acted arrogantly against the Lord and turned from Him. And yet, even acknowledging the just punishment that had come upon them because of their own sin, they come to God, entreating Him to see their hardship and they rely on His compassion. And we can too.
Stubbornness, Arrogance, and Rebellion
The Levites, standing before the sons of Israel, recount the history of their fathers. The cycle is evident. The people refuse to listen to the commands of the Lord, they become stubborn, they commit sin, the consequences of their sin are too great to bear and they cry out to the Lord, and the Lord in His compassion delivers them. After experiencing the gracious kindness of God, reveling in His great goodness, and obtaining rest, they yet again repeat the cycle of arrogance and stubbornness, seeking their own way. If we’re honest, this is our story. How often do we, even as believers, get lulled into a lazy spiritual mindedness that leads to a lack of diligence and we find ourselves making sinful choices? Or perhaps we have this sin that always seems to again gain the upper hand. We’ve prayed, confessed, and fought against this sin, and there is victory for a while, and then we slip back into old habits. Or maybe you have a loved one that just seems to return again and again to folly. What is the hope for us and for them? The Levites, throughout the recounting of Israel’s waywardness, frequently speak of God as a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate. Because of His great compassion, He had not forsaken them. Because of His great compassion, He led them and guided them, gave them manna and water, and provided for them. Because of His great compassion, He heard their cries for help and delivered them. Because of His great compassion, He did not abandon them but many times He rescued them. And even though they returned to their folly and would not listen, He bore with them, and the Levites say, “Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God” (9:31). Six times they remind God that He is compassionate, full of tender mercy and deep love. They relied on His compassion and so must we.
Compassion and Mercy
Compassion is the sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Mercy is compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender. This is what the people of God were seeking in Nehemiah 9, and this is what God has extended toward us in Christ. “He has saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). It was God’s kindness, His great love, His rich mercy that brought us from darkness to light, from being dead in our sins to alive in Christ. It is at the heart of who God is. When we were without strength, enemies of God, He rescued us. It’s a deeper mercy and compassion than we can fathom, and that is why we are coming to Him on behalf of our loved one (or even ourselves!). Whether our loved one is being held captive by Satan to do his will, or foolishly wasting their lives, they need the tender mercy of God to act compassionately toward them. More than rescue from their circumstances, they need Christ. They need God to grant them repentance that leads to the knowledge of the truth that they may come to their senses (2 Timothy 2:25-26). It can be discouraging to see a loved one making choices that negatively impact their lives. It is hard to watch someone ignore wisdom and act in risky ways. But let’s turn that discouragement and hardship into motivation to beseech God for His mercy and compassion toward our wayward loved one. He is full of compassion, both bearing with their stubbornness and at times giving them just consequences, in wisdom knowing exactly what they need to turn their hearts toward Him.
A Prayer for God’s Compassion
Grace and Compassion
Nehemiah 9:5-25
We praise and thank You because You are righteous and fulfill all Your promises to us. You are glorious and You alone are the Lord, who has made heaven and earth and all that it is in them. You have chosen us to be Your people, and we are so thankful to be in Your family and to be able to call You Father. We pray that You would hear our cries for our loved one and see their affliction that is causing distress both to themselves and to us because we love them. They have acted arrogantly and have not listened to Your commandments. They have forgotten the good You have done for them and have stubbornly done what they wanted to do. But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness, do not forsake them now. Light for them the way they are to go. Give them Your good Spirit to instruct them. Give them the manna of Your Word, and graciously provide for them and sustain them so that they are not in want. So transform their situation and their heart that they delight themselves in Your great goodness.
Deliverance and Rescue
Nehemiah 9:26-31
Our loved one has been disobedient and rebelled against You. We ask that Your kindness would lead them to repentance. They are suffering consequences of their actions, and we are crying to You on their behalf. Use these circumstances to cause them to see their need for You and to cry to You. Hear from heaven and deliver them from their distressing situation. At times, they have acted arrogantly, turned a stubborn shoulder, and stiffened their neck and would not listen to You or to wisdom. We ask that You would bear with them and admonish them by Your Spirit and in Your great compassion You would not forsake them but would yet again rescue them, as You have done many times because You are gracious and compassionate. Thank You that You do not abandon or forsake you people, but when they cry to You, You hear and You act.
God is Faithful
Nehemiah 9:32-37
Our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, do not let all their hardship seem insignificant before You. They are suffering. They are in distress, and they need Your help. You are just in all that has come upon them, because You always act faithfully, while they have acted wickedly. Pour out Your great goodness upon them. They are acting as slaves to their sin. Abundantly pardon and pour out Your compassion and mercy on them to not only transform their circumstances but to transform their heart and mind to follow in Your ways. Give them a faithful heart before You (9:8). We pray all these things according to Your will and relying on Your love and compassion. You saved us, not on the basis of our deeds but according to Your mercy. Respond to our cries now, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Photo credit to anniespratt
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