Introduction:

A. We are going to see a time in the history of Israel when they repented.  Prior to seeing that time, we will see what brought it about:

1. Ezra brought the Law of the Lord to the people (Nehemiah 8:1-2; 5-6).
2. They understood the Law of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:8).

a. We can understand the word of God (Ephesians 3:2-4). 
b. It is preaching the word of God that causes men to be saved (I Corinthians 1:18-21).

3. When the saw the Law they did the Law (Nehemiah 8:10-18).

B. Text: Nehemiah 9:1-4

1. Israel realizes wrong and repents to God much like Nineveh did as a result of the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:2-10).
2. When we fall away we must turn back to God and do the appropriate works to show our repentance (Acts 26:20). 

A. (Nehemiah 9:1) “…the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.” 

1. Israel dressed and acted in a way which showed sorrow and repentance (Joel 2:12-13). 

B. Sorrow brings forth repentance (II Corinthians 7:9-10). 

1. Repentance is change (Acts 26:20 and Matthew 3:8).
2. Repentance is required (Luke 13:3; 5).

A. (Nehemiah 9:2a) “And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers…”

1. Their repentance required them to cut off contact with outsiders (Ezra 10:10-12 and Nehemiah 13:1-3).
2. It was always God’s plan for His people NOT to intermingle with outsiders (Deuteronomy 7:1-8, Exodus 34:10-16, and Numbers 33:51-56). 

B. The decline of God’s people came as the generation after Joshua’s began to follow the God’s of the people in their lands (Judges 2:10-12). 

1. The Bible teaches about bad influences (I Corinthians 15:33).
2. This is why Christians need to separate themselves from ungodly influences (II Corinthians 6:14-18).

A. (Nehemiah 9:2b) “…stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.”

1. Proverbs 28:13 

B. The Beauty of confession and repentance of our sins is that God not only forgives, but He also forgives (I John 1:9). 

1. The promise of the New Covenant was wonderful for this reason (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
2. That promise has been fulfilled (Hebrews 8:1-13).

A. (Nehemiah 9:3) “And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God.”

1. ¼ of the day spent studying produced growth so that they worshipped God.
2. They confessed the Lord (I Kings 8:33-34).

B. Reading / studying the word of God produces action:

1. Deuteronomy 31:11-12
2. II Kings 23:1-3

C. Their action of turning to and worshipping God shows their minds were on spiritual things (John 4:23-24).

1. Their worship shows their reconciliation with the Lord (John 9:31). 

A. Three significant parts to the crying out to the Lord need discussed from Nehemiah 9:4:

1. Israel cried out [shows emotion] see: Exodus 14:10.
2. With a loud voice [shows emotion] see: Matthew 27:46.
3. Unto God [shows who they expected to hear them] see: Isaiah 59:1-2.

2002 by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.