For even while they were in their kingdom, with the abundant goodness that You had given them, and in the spacious and fertile land that You had set before them, they would not serve You or turn from their wicked ways. Even while they were in their kingdomThis phrase highlights the period when the Israelites were established in their own land, a time of political autonomy and national identity. The Hebrew word for "kingdom" (מַלְכוּת, malkut) signifies not just a political entity but also a divine mandate. Historically, this refers to the era of the united monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon, and later the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Despite having their own kingdom, the Israelites often failed to recognize God's sovereignty over their earthly rule. with the abundant goodness that You gave them
The "abundant goodness" (טוּב, tuv) refers to the manifold blessings God bestowed upon Israel, including prosperity, peace, and divine favor. This phrase underscores God's generosity and faithfulness, even when His people were unfaithful. Theologically, it reflects the covenant relationship where God remains steadfast in His promises, providing for His people despite their shortcomings. and in the spacious and fertile land
The "spacious and fertile land" (אֶרֶץ רַחֲבָה וּשְׁמֵנָה, eretz rachavah u'shemenah) is a direct reference to the Promised Land, a central theme in the Hebrew Bible. This land, described as "flowing with milk and honey," symbolizes God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises to the patriarchs. Archaeologically, the fertility of the land is evidenced by its historical agricultural productivity, supporting the biblical narrative of a land capable of sustaining a large population. that You set before them
This phrase emphasizes God's active role in placing the Israelites in the Promised Land. The Hebrew verb (נָתַן, natan) implies a deliberate act of giving, highlighting God's sovereignty and grace. Scripturally, this act of setting the land before them is a fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, demonstrating God's faithfulness across generations. they did not serve You
The failure to "serve" (עָבַד, avad) God is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where service implies worship, obedience, and loyalty. Despite God's blessings, the Israelites often turned to idolatry and neglected their covenantal duties. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the human tendency to stray from divine commandments, even amidst divine favor. or turn from their evil ways
The call to "turn" (שׁוּב, shuv) from "evil ways" (דֶּרֶךְ רָעָה, derekh ra'ah) is a central message of the prophets, urging repentance and a return to God. The Hebrew concept of repentance involves a complete transformation of heart and behavior. Historically, the Israelites' failure to repent led to consequences such as exile and suffering, yet God's call to repentance always carried the promise of restoration and forgiveness. Persons / Places / Events 1. NehemiahA Jewish leader who played a crucial role in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and the spiritual renewal of the people. He is the central figure in the book of Nehemiah. 2. IsraelitesThe people of God who are the focus of this passage. They are reflecting on their history and acknowledging their failure to serve God despite His blessings. 3. The KingdomRefers to the period when the Israelites were established in the Promised Land, enjoying God's blessings and prosperity. 4. The LandThe Promised Land, described as spacious and fertile, which God gave to the Israelites as an inheritance. 5. God's Abundant GoodnessThe blessings and prosperity that God bestowed upon the Israelites, which they failed to appreciate and respond to with obedience. Teaching Points Gratitude for God's BlessingsRecognize and appreciate the blessings God has given us, understanding that they are meant to draw us closer to Him. The Danger of ComplacencyProsperity can lead to spiritual complacency. We must remain vigilant in our devotion to God, regardless of our circumstances. Repentance and ObedienceTrue repentance involves turning away from evil ways and serving God wholeheartedly. Reflect on areas in your life where you need to make changes. Historical Reflection for Spiritual GrowthReflecting on past failures can lead to spiritual growth and renewal. Use history as a tool for learning and transformation. God's Faithfulness Despite Human FailureGod's abundant goodness remains constant, even when we fail. Trust in His faithfulness and strive to align your life with His will. Bible Study Questions 1. How can we ensure that we remain grateful and obedient to God during times of prosperity? 2. In what ways can reflecting on the history of the Israelites help us in our spiritual journey today? 3. What are some practical steps we can take to avoid spiritual complacency in our lives? 4. How does understanding God's abundant goodness motivate us to turn from our evil ways and serve Him? 5. Can you identify a time in your life when you experienced God's blessings but failed to respond with obedience? How can you learn from that experience? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 8This chapter warns the Israelites not to forget God when they enter the Promised Land and experience prosperity. It highlights the same theme of ingratitude and forgetfulness. Jeremiah 2This passage describes Israel's unfaithfulness despite God's provision and care, echoing the themes of Nehemiah 9:35. Romans 2:4This verse speaks about God's kindness leading to repentance, which contrasts with the Israelites' failure to turn from their evil ways despite His goodness. 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 Abundant, Broad, Deeds, Doings, Enjoying, Evil, Evil-doing, Fat, Fertile, Gavest, Goodness, Hast, Kingdom, Large, Rich, Servants, Serve, Served, Spacious, Turn, Wicked, WorksDictionary of Bible Themes Nehemiah 9:35 5846 enjoyment
7160 servants of the Lord Nehemiah 9:33-35 6624 confession, of sin 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 9:35 NIVNehemiah 9:35 NLTNehemiah 9:35 ESVNehemiah 9:35 NASBNehemiah 9:35 KJV
Nehemiah 9:35 Commentaries
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