HCBC Sunday School – “Friends” Class
Return to the Restoring God (Nehemiah 9:32-37)

1) Memory Verse:
a. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: ~ Nehemiah 9:33
2) First Thoughts
a. Forgive and forget. God’s covenant with His people is like a marriage relationship, ideally founded on grace, love, and faithfulness. When Israelites broke the covenant over and over again, God judged them (exile). He did so for the purpose of bringing them to the point of repentance and with the hope of restoring them.
3) Understand the Context
a. Nehemiah 9 picks up from the great spiritual awakening described in Chapter 8. Next came a newfound commitment to God by keeping the feast times, such the Feast of Tabernacles. It was appropriate to follow up the Feast with a day-long, community-wide assembly for the purpose of confessing their sins before the Lord.
4) Explore the Text
a. The Great God – verse 32
i. Connections between God’s character and His actions. Great, mighty, terrible, faithful, merciful, just, righteous, gracious – gavest (3). John 3:16
b. The Confession – verses 33-35
i. See their desire for and hope of restoration with God. Sin is the greatest roadblock to effective prayer.
ii. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ~ I John 1:9
c. The Request – verses 36-37
i. Their confession was in fact an appeal to the merciful God of the covenant.
ii. [9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
[12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ~ Romans 10:9-13