Confession and Praise

Introduction

Nehemiah 9 introduces us to a lengthy prayer in which God is praised for his compassionate forgiving nature and the people are led in confession for sins. This follows on the heels of great celebration found in Nehemiah 8. Remember at the beginning of chapter 8, the people were already weeping as they heard the law being read. They were told to celebrate for God had been good to them in allowing the walls to be rebuilt. But now the sorrow returns for they realize that past sins are still needing to be forgiven.

The people gather having spent time fasting. They are wearing sackcloth and ashes—signs of repentance and sorrow. They gather and begin to confess their sins. The book of the law is read aloud. There is a mixture of confession and praise. For three hours there is confession of sins and for three hours there is praise. Nehemiah 9:4-5 tells us that this is done antiphonally. There are two groups. One group leads the people in confession and the other group leads the people in praise. The image is of a time of confessing and a time of praise. Verses 5-37 is an example of what might have taken place. Verses 5-25 is filled with praise statements. Verses 26-37 is confession.

We are going to follow their lead this morning. We are going to begin with a time of praise. Our songs will be praise oriented. Our prayer will be oriented to praise. We will praise God for his acts of kindness toward us as a congregation and as his children. We will take the Lord’s Supper in the midst of this praise. We will celebrate God’s goodness. But we are also going to confess our sins. We will spend time confessing in song and in prayer. Let’s begin with a set of songs and then we will move to responsive readings. John will then come and lead us in a prayer praising God.

Assembly Order and Readings

Three praise songs will open our time together.

We will then move to responsive readings. The first focuses on creation and sovereignty, drawing on Psalm 136:1-9 and reflecting on life, health, and breath. Next we will read about God’s planning, using Ephesians 1:4-14, and remembering that God is the keeper of promises who sought us and pursued us. The third reading will center on deliverance, incorporating 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 and acknowledging the difficulties we face. The fourth reading will explore God’s sustaining power through 1 Corinthians 10:13 and the escape God provides. The fifth reading will meditate on God’s patience, drawing on 2 Peter 3:9 and recognizing God as compassionate, merciful, caring, and loving. The final reading will celebrate God’s blessings, using Psalm 136:23-26 and inviting us to recall the victories you have achieved in your life, your promotions that you did not expect to get, your achievements at work or in your home. Have you stopped to revel in the goodness of God? That is the right thing to do. Recognize that God is with you. God’s hand is in what you do.

A prayer of praise will follow, led by John Brownlow. Two songs for the Lord’s Supper will precede comments from Mark Scott.

Confession of Sin

Two songs of confession will usher us into this season of vulnerability. We will then engage in a responsive reading on disobedience and consequence, using 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to examine impatience, failure to control the tongue, gossip, anger that led to hurt, selfish actions, mistreatment of others, prideful behavior, unkindness, grumbling about circumstances, failure to say thank you, and harbored grudges. The responsive reading will include the confession: Lord, I did it. I failed. I turned aside. I forgot your Word. I walked in my own willful way.

An invitation will follow, accompanied by a song to encourage response. A prayer of confession and change will guide us deeper into repentance. Mark Scott will lead us in the collection. A final song will close this season of confession. O’Neil Parker will offer the closing prayer.

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