They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took houses full of all goods, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled; they grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness. They captured fortified citiesThe phrase "fortified cities" refers to the strongholds that the Israelites conquered in the Promised Land. The Hebrew word for "fortified" is "בְּצֻרוֹת" (batsurot), which implies cities that were well-defended and strategically important. Historically, these cities were often surrounded by thick walls and were considered impenetrable. The capture of such cities signifies God's power and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Israel, as these victories were not achieved by human might alone but through divine intervention. and a fertile land
The "fertile land" is a reference to the land of Canaan, often described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). The Hebrew word "שְׁמֵנָה" (shemenah) indicates richness and abundance. This land was a gift from God, a place where the Israelites could thrive and prosper. It symbolizes God's provision and the fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. they took houses full of every good thing
The phrase "houses full of every good thing" highlights the abundance and blessings that the Israelites received. The Hebrew word "טוֹב" (tov) means good, pleasant, or agreeable. This abundance was not earned by the Israelites but was a gift from God, emphasizing His grace and generosity. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual blessings that believers receive through faith in Christ. with wells already dug
"Wells already dug" signifies the provision of essential resources without the labor of the Israelites. In ancient times, wells were crucial for survival, especially in arid regions. The fact that these wells were already dug underscores God's providence and the ease with which the Israelites could settle into the land. It is a metaphor for the spiritual sustenance that God provides to His people. vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance
This phrase paints a picture of agricultural prosperity. Vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees were vital for sustenance and economic stability in ancient Israel. The abundance of these resources signifies God's blessing and the fulfillment of His promise to provide for His people. Spiritually, it represents the fruitfulness that comes from living in obedience to God. So they ate and were filled and grew fat
The sequence "ate and were filled and grew fat" describes the physical satisfaction and prosperity experienced by the Israelites. The Hebrew word "שָׂבֵעַ" (sabea) means to be satisfied or full. This physical abundance is a reflection of God's provision. However, it also serves as a cautionary tale, as physical prosperity can lead to spiritual complacency if not accompanied by gratitude and obedience. delighting in Your great goodness
The phrase "delighting in Your great goodness" emphasizes the joy and contentment found in God's blessings. The Hebrew word "טוּב" (tov) for goodness reflects God's character and His benevolent actions towards His people. This delight is not merely in material wealth but in the recognition of God's grace and mercy. It calls believers to find their ultimate joy in the Lord, acknowledging His goodness in all circumstances. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelitesThe people of God who are recounting their history and God's faithfulness during a time of confession and renewal. 2. Fortified CitiesRepresents the strength and security that God provided to the Israelites as they took possession of the Promised Land. 3. Fertile LandSymbolizes the abundance and provision from God, fulfilling His promises to their ancestors. 4. Houses Full of Good ThingsIndicates the blessings and prosperity that the Israelites received without their own labor, a gift from God. 5. Vineyards, Olive Groves, and Fruit TreesThese are symbols of prosperity, sustenance, and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people. Teaching Points God's Faithfulness and ProvisionReflect on how God has provided for you in unexpected ways. Recognize His hand in your life and give thanks for His faithfulness. The Danger of ComplacencyThe Israelites "grew fat" and delighted in God's goodness, which can lead to complacency. Guard against taking God's blessings for granted and maintain a heart of gratitude and obedience. The Importance of RemembranceRegularly recount and remember God's past faithfulness in your life. This practice strengthens faith and encourages trust in His future provision. Stewardship of BlessingsConsider how you are using the blessings God has given you. Are you using them to glorify Him and serve others, or are you hoarding them for personal gain? Community and ConfessionEngage in communal confession and renewal, as the Israelites did, to foster a collective acknowledgment of God's goodness and a commitment to follow Him. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Nehemiah 9:25 illustrate God's faithfulness to His promises, and how can this encourage us in our current circumstances? 2. In what ways might we become complacent in our spiritual lives when we experience abundance, and how can we guard against this? 3. How can we actively remember and recount God's past provisions in our lives, and why is this important for our faith journey? 4. What are some practical ways we can use the blessings God has given us to serve others and glorify Him? 5. How can communal confession and reflection, as seen in Nehemiah 9, strengthen our faith and commitment to God in our own communities? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 6:10-11This passage foretells the blessings that the Israelites would receive in the Promised Land, including cities they did not build and vineyards they did not plant, highlighting God's provision. Joshua 24:13Joshua reminds the Israelites that God gave them a land for which they did not labor, reinforcing the theme of divine provision and grace. Psalm 65:11This psalm speaks of God's abundant provision and blessing, echoing the themes of abundance and divine goodness found in Nehemiah 9:25. People Abram, Amorites, Bani, Bunni, Canaanites, Chenani, Egyptians, Ezra, Girgashite, Girgashites, Hashabniah, Hittites, Hodiah, Hodijah, Israelites, Jebusites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Levites, Og, Perizzites, Pethahiah, Pharaoh, Shebaniah, Sherebiah, SihonPlaces Assyria, Bashan, Egypt, Gate of Ephraim, Heshbon, Mount Sinai, Red Sea, UrTopics Abundance, Already, Ate, Capture, Captured, Cisterns, Cities, Cut, Delight, Delighted, Digged, Digged-wells, Dug, Eat, Fat, Fenced, Fertile, Filled, Fortified, Fruit, Fruit-trees, Full, Goodness, Goods, Grew, Ground, Groves, Hewn, Houses, Joy, Kinds, Luxuriated, Olive, Olive-gardens, Oliveyards, Olive-yards, Orchards, Owners, Possess, Possessed, Possession, Reveled, Rich, Rock, Satisfied, Strong, Themselves, Towns, Trees, Vine-gardens, Vineyards, Walled, Water-holes, Wealth, Well-nourished, WellsDictionary of Bible Themes Nehemiah 9:25 4296 wells
4492 olive
4538 vineyard
5315 fortifications Nehemiah 9:16-29 5170 neck Nehemiah 9:16-31 6223 rebellion, of Israel Nehemiah 9:25-26 8810 riches, dangers Library The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength. Neh 9:10
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John Newton—Olney HymnsQuestions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day Sabbath.
AND PROOF, THAT THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IS THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SABBATH. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'The Son of man is lord also of the Sabbath day.' London: Printed for Nath, Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1685. EDITOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. All our inquiries into divine commands are required to be made personally, solemnly, prayerful. To 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast' and obey 'that which is good,' is a precept, equally binding upon the clown, as it is upon the philosopher. Satisfied from our observations …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The "Fraternity" of Pharisees
To realise the state of religious society at the time of our Lord, the fact that the Pharisees were a regular "order," and that there were many such "fraternities," in great measure the outcome of the original Pharisees, must always be kept in view. For the New Testament simply transports us among contemporary scenes and actors, taking the then existent state of things, so to speak, for granted. But the fact referred to explains many seemingly strange circumstances, and casts fresh light upon all. …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Fragrant Spices from the Mountains of Myrrh. "Thou Art all Fair, My Love; There is no Spot in Thee. " --Song of Solomon iv. 7.
FRAGRANT SPICES FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF MYRRH. HOW marvellous are these words! "Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee." The glorious Bridegroom is charmed with His spouse, and sings soft canticles of admiration. When the bride extols her Lord there is no wonder, for He deserves it well, and in Him there is room for praise without possibility of flattery. But does He who is wiser than Solomon condescend to praise this sunburnt Shulamite? Tis even so, for these are His own words, and were …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Before one can correctly understand the work of the Holy Spirit, he must first of all know the Spirit Himself. A frequent source of error and fanaticism about the work of the Holy Spirit is the attempt to study and understand His work without first of all coming to know Him as a Person. It is of the highest importance from the standpoint of worship that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, worthy to receive our adoration, our faith, our love, and our entire surrender to Himself, …
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit The Early Life of Malachy. Having Been Admitted to Holy Orders He Associates with Malchus
[Sidenote: 1095.] 1. Our Malachy, born in Ireland,[134] of a barbarous people, was brought up there, and there received his education. But from the barbarism of his birth he contracted no taint, any more than the fishes of the sea from their native salt. But how delightful to reflect, that uncultured barbarism should have produced for us so worthy[135] a fellow-citizen with the saints and member of the household of God.[136] He who brings honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock[137] …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh The Prophecy of Obadiah.
We need not enter into details regarding the question as to the time when the prophet wrote. By a thorough argumentation, Caspari has proved, that he occupies his right position in the Canon, and hence belongs to the earliest age of written prophecy, i.e., to the time of Jeroboam II. and Uzziah. As bearing conclusively against those who would assign to him a far later date, viz., the time of the exile, there is not only the indirect testimony borne by the place which this prophecy occupies in …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Preface to the Commandments
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God,' &c. Exod 20: 1, 2. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is, I am the Lord thy God.' The preface to the preface is, God spake all these words, saying,' &c. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation. Other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the holy prophets (Luke 1: 70), but here God spake in his own person. How are we to understand that, God spake, …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Of Immediate Revelation.
Of Immediate Revelation. [29] Seeing no man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him; and seeing the revelation of the Son is in and by the Spirit; therefore the testimony of the Spirit is that alone by which the true knowledge of God hath been, is, and can be only revealed; who as, by the moving of his own Spirit, he disposed the chaos of this world into that wonderful order in which it was in the beginning, and created man a living soul, to rule and govern it, so by …
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Holy War,
MADE BY SHADDAI UPON DIABOLUS, FOR THE REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD; OR, THE LOSING AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN OF MANSOUL. THE AUTHOR OF 'THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.' 'I have used similitudes.'--Hosea 12:10. London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms in the Poultry; and Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Bunyan's account of the Holy War is indeed an extraordinary book, manifesting a degree of genius, research, and spiritual …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Ezra-Nehemiah
Some of the most complicated problems in Hebrew history as well as in the literary criticism of the Old Testament gather about the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Apart from these books, all that we know of the origin and early history of Judaism is inferential. They are our only historical sources for that period; and if in them we have, as we seem to have, authentic memoirs, fragmentary though they be, written by the two men who, more than any other, gave permanent shape and direction to Judaism, then …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Nehemiah 9:25 NIVNehemiah 9:25 NLTNehemiah 9:25 ESVNehemiah 9:25 NASBNehemiah 9:25 KJV
Nehemiah 9:25 Commentaries
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