2023_10_23 Insight Post- Kim Feld

  -   October 23, 2023

This week’s reading-  Nehemiah 8-9, Haggai 1

I try to make having time every morning alone with God a priority. I have my morning routine and try not to deviate from it. Still, some days, I get sidetracked by an early morning text, phone call, oversleeping, or a distraction of my own making. Even with my routine, I sometimes struggle to stay focused and not jump ahead into what job responsibilities are awaiting me. If I’m not careful, this time can become rote. Routine is great except when it allows me to go into autopilot instead of purposeful listening and interacting with God.

In our reading of Nehemiah chapters 8-9 this week, I was struck by these verses in chapter 9:

“On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. ² Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. ³ 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” (Nehemiah 9:1-3, NLT).

Did you catch that? The people stood and listened to the Book of the Law being read for three solid hours. THEN, they confessed their sins and worshiped for three more hours. It’s also important to note that they not only confessed their personal sins but also the sins of their ancestors. This vastly differs from our often individualistic view of sin – “I’m only responsible for myself and what I’ve done.” The people of Israel knew that God held them accountable as individuals and a nation.

These verses also demonstrate how the people humbled themselves before God by fasting, dressing in burlap, and sprinkling dust on their heads. Fasting is linked with repentance. Dressing in sackcloth or burlap was used as a sign of mourning or loss. Sprinkling dust on their heads was a sign of ruin or barrenness. All of this was used as an outward sign of something occurring within their hearts (Got Questions Ministries, 2022). The people understood exactly what had brought them to where they were.

The following prayer, beginning in verse 5, is a beautiful recap of all God had done and brought the people through. It underscores the importance of remembering what God has done in my life and praising Him for how He has worked on my behalf. I need to do that more often.

As I ponder these verses, I made a mental checklist for myself and my time with God. This is what I came up with:

• Approach Him with the right heart attitude. He wants to be my life, not something on my to-do list.
• Focus on His Word and allow it to bring me to personal and communal confession and repentance. Put it all out before Him!
• Allow remembrance for all He has done to bring me to a place of praise.