Nehemiah 9:27-31
In Israel’s praise to God they confessed persistent disobedience as the cause of enemy oppression. “…But when they cried out to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them People who saved them from the hand of their enemies.” (27b-e). They did not blame their enemies, but confessed full responsibility for all they suffered at the hands of their enemies. When we fail to acknowledge our failure to turn to God and His Word, we will not receive help from God. Ultimately, God’s desire for us is that we turn our hearts completely to Him. God persistently admonished His people by His Spirit through His prophets (27-30), but Israel persistently refused to listen to their own demise. “Nevertheless in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or abandon them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God.” (31) We are saved and delivered, not by who we are, but by Who God is, a gracious and compassionate God!