It’s undeserved. It’s unmerited. It’s the opposite of what should be.
The history of Israel is on full display in this chapter. The Levites stand before Israel and cry out with a loud voice their story and the truth of the Lord’s mercy.
“…But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.” Nehemiah 9:17
“…and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.” Nehemiah 9:27
“… and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.” Nehemiah 9:28
“Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.” Nehemiah 9:31
Have you ever written out your testimony? Does it include the mercy of God? It should. Like those who lived before us we have been stiff-necked, hard-hearted, self-reliant, and turned away from the Lord.
The sobering truth is there will be a day when we stand in front of a holy and perfect God… and when we do we won’t be able to stand before Him by our merits but because of His great mercy. It begins with justification, being forgiven and made righteous through faith (self-abandoned trust) in the person and work of Jesus.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.