Someone once said that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s certainly a decent definition of human nature. We do the same thing over and over, intending to change… only to find the cycle repeating again.
The second part the people’s great prayer of confession, which we’re covering today, certainly makes that very clear. Time and again God blesses the people; time and again they turn away and disobey, bringing disaster on themselves in the process; at which point they return to God, who mercifully forgives and blesses them once more… only for the people to disobey, and so the cycle repeats again.
This pattern has been evident throughout the history of God’s people. The Book of Judges is probably the most sobering read in the bible, precisely for this reason. Every time a Judge is raised up by God and rescues a wayward people, they soon turn back to their wicked ways – leading them to cry out again to God… and so on, and so on.
700 years after the time of the Judges, it seems the penny has finally dropped. The people in Nehemiah’s time not only make this amazing prayer to God, they also give a wonderful summary of the story of God’s people – a story of disobedience and grace. Now they find themselves again at the bottom of the cycle (vv36-37) – but they know who the Lord is, they understand his character: (v32) ‘the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love.’ They ask God to be gracious again; to rescue and restore them again, trusting in this great God who ‘delivered them time after time’ (v28).
Today, we may feel that we make this kind of prayer so often. A repeating cycle – can God possibly forgive this time? The answer is yes – not because of who we are, but because of who He is. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. His mercy always triumphs over the judgement we deserve.
Today, seize that truth again, and claim the forgiveness which none of us merit, but the Lord graciously bestows upon us. And may we live in the kindness of this God, reflecting that kindness to others. Amen.