Nehemiah 1-9

“By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets ... in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God” (9:30). The Israelites who returned from exile to re-occupy the Promised Land had neglected God’s Word and His ways. Ezra read the Law of Moses publicly, so that the people heard both the stories of God’s faithfulness and what God required of them (ch 8), and then the Levites explained it (8:8).

Although the people wept in repentance, they also celebrated with “great joy” (8:12). Through the Word, God mercifully corrects us, shows us the right way, and leads us back to him.