Nehemiah 9:9-18

A tragic account of the Israelites victory then decline in their spiritual closeness with God. Nehemiah is lamenting with great sorrow in his heart of how the Israelites ancestors were able to escape captivity and bondage under the Egyptians by the grace of God through the miraculous splitting of the Red Sea. God has provided them food from the heaven and when they were thirsty, brought them water upon the people from a rock. Unfortunately the Israelites ancestors became prideful and arrogant, they have slowly began to forget these victories provided by the Lord and they began to disobey His commands. Even then, God is a gracious and forgiving God. 

History repeats itself. There is a war and apocalyptic anime I used to watch called Attack on Titan and at the very last scene after the final credits, the scene shows peacetime in the country within the story. Technological advances are shown during that peacetime but soon at the very end all the modern and futuristic buildings are on fire and destroyed from war. It is a stoic and dark ending that reminds the audience that people have a short memory and that the cycle of humanity is suffering, victory over the suffering, peacetime, and suffering again. 

The same narrative is found in the Old Testament especially in books such as Judges where the Israelites are continuously going through rebellion, rebuking, repentance, revival, then rebellion again. Yet what we often don’t have a conversation around is through these various cycles is the fact that God is gracious and forgiving. 

Too often in my life, I find myself forgetful of what God has done in the past. I think the most dangerous time for many Christians is the aftermath of a prayer request being answered. When God answers a prayer, we tend to be in “peacetime in the midst of spiritual warfare.” It is during this time, we are most tempted and the Devil can use it against us. Think about David when he was back home during wartime. He fell into temptation even when God has proven over and over how powerful and amazing He is. We have to be disciplined in various ways to remind ourselves of what God has done in the past. 

Proverbs 17

Don’t start an argument when it is unnecessary, it is like breaching a dam according to verse 14, therefore it says to “drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” In verse 19 it says “whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.” We must avoid seeking an argument or fighting.

Continuously remind yourself of the goodness of God for it says in verse 22 that a “cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Even in difficult moments, the only medicine that will help is trusting in the promises of God and hope in Him.