Nehemiah : WK 2 - THU
Confession
Nehemiah 1:6-7
I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses..
Matthew 6:11-12
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Before we move on to the second chapter of Nehemiah, I'd like to share an observation about confession, lament, repentance, and forgiveness.
I’ve noticed a generally negative response to the concept of corporate confession and lament. Common commentary often includes a reluctance to apologize for wrongs someone didn’t directly commit. While significant examples can be found on the large scale of national politics, global churches, and scrutinized systems, corporate sins are often much more local and familial. It is far more common to spend significant time denying, excusing, or explaining why it’s not my fault rather than expressing sorrow and seeking forgiveness. My personal favorite is the playground defense, “ya, but did you see what they did?”
We readily admit that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and need forgiveness. However, many of us feel uncomfortable with public admissions on a corporate level. This seems especially true in the Christian church. Instead, Christians show an increasing tendency to express blame rather than lament.
Juxtaposed against this dissonance, consider the prayer of Nehemiah. He offers a corporate confession, requesting forgiveness for the sins of his father’s household and all of Israel. Unmistakably, he confesses the sins that led to captivity many years before he was even born. Given time, would he plead for forgiveness for the rebellion of our first parents in the Garden of Eden? And what would be wrong with that? Clearly, he values sweeping statements of sorrow. Like the best leaders, he takes responsibility for his people.
Before you jump to the conclusion that Nehemiah is a weirdo, take a closer look at the Lord’s Prayer. It isn’t just the weeping prayer of the cupbearer that uses corporate plural language in its confessions. “Forgive US OUR debts, as WE forgive OUR debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) We might try to excuse the language somehow. But why? Jesus makes it clear that confession always leads to His forgiveness. Why would I stop short of even a single ounce of forgiveness available to me, my household, and those I love? Is it possible that corporate lament fosters a greater sense of responsibility and accountability for the actions of the communities to which I belong? Would I expend more energy and influence to positively affect the groups I inhabit if I took corporate confession more seriously?
Finally, I want to emphasize that loyalty, patriotism, and love for our communities feel stronger rather than diminished when we acknowledge our wrongs and seek forgiveness. Why do we spend so much time pretending, lying, and engaging in various forms of hypocrisy?
Today, I ask forgiveness for my sins, as well as for the sins of my family, my generation, my church, and my country. While we are at it, “Search my heart, O God, and see if there is any offensive way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24) Then, forgive me… not just a little bit. Please grant me all the forgiveness needed to be completely clean.
Nehemiah 1:6-7
I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses..
Matthew 6:11-12
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Before we move on to the second chapter of Nehemiah, I'd like to share an observation about confession, lament, repentance, and forgiveness.
I’ve noticed a generally negative response to the concept of corporate confession and lament. Common commentary often includes a reluctance to apologize for wrongs someone didn’t directly commit. While significant examples can be found on the large scale of national politics, global churches, and scrutinized systems, corporate sins are often much more local and familial. It is far more common to spend significant time denying, excusing, or explaining why it’s not my fault rather than expressing sorrow and seeking forgiveness. My personal favorite is the playground defense, “ya, but did you see what they did?”
We readily admit that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and need forgiveness. However, many of us feel uncomfortable with public admissions on a corporate level. This seems especially true in the Christian church. Instead, Christians show an increasing tendency to express blame rather than lament.
Juxtaposed against this dissonance, consider the prayer of Nehemiah. He offers a corporate confession, requesting forgiveness for the sins of his father’s household and all of Israel. Unmistakably, he confesses the sins that led to captivity many years before he was even born. Given time, would he plead for forgiveness for the rebellion of our first parents in the Garden of Eden? And what would be wrong with that? Clearly, he values sweeping statements of sorrow. Like the best leaders, he takes responsibility for his people.
Before you jump to the conclusion that Nehemiah is a weirdo, take a closer look at the Lord’s Prayer. It isn’t just the weeping prayer of the cupbearer that uses corporate plural language in its confessions. “Forgive US OUR debts, as WE forgive OUR debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) We might try to excuse the language somehow. But why? Jesus makes it clear that confession always leads to His forgiveness. Why would I stop short of even a single ounce of forgiveness available to me, my household, and those I love? Is it possible that corporate lament fosters a greater sense of responsibility and accountability for the actions of the communities to which I belong? Would I expend more energy and influence to positively affect the groups I inhabit if I took corporate confession more seriously?
Finally, I want to emphasize that loyalty, patriotism, and love for our communities feel stronger rather than diminished when we acknowledge our wrongs and seek forgiveness. Why do we spend so much time pretending, lying, and engaging in various forms of hypocrisy?
Today, I ask forgiveness for my sins, as well as for the sins of my family, my generation, my church, and my country. While we are at it, “Search my heart, O God, and see if there is any offensive way in me.” (Psalm 139:23-24) Then, forgive me… not just a little bit. Please grant me all the forgiveness needed to be completely clean.
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how easy is it for you to say, “I’m sorry”? What do you think contributes to that?
- Have you ever felt embarrassed by your family? If so, why?
- What corporate confession would you make if you knew you would receive instant and complete forgiveness? What would you like to say to Jesus about that right now?
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