Nehemiah’s references to God’s statements in... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Remember, I pray, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather you from there.
Nehemiah 1:8.9

Nehemiah's references to God's statements in various chapters of the books of Moses here summarise God's threats and promises. He reminds God of them in prayer. God's ancient sayings describe precisely Nehemiah's situation at the time. We cannot fail to recognise the spiritual sensitiveness and the comprehensive knowledge of Scripture that Nehemiah, this "servant" of God, as he often designates himself (cf. vv. 6 & 11), had.

We can learn a lot from this. It is good to read and understand Holy Scripture, verse by verse and chapter by chapter. It is even better to meditate on it and recognise the interrelationship of the entire content. But it is best to allow oneself to be guided by God's Holy Spirit and apply the word of God to our present personal situation. We then learn something of God's readiness to forgive; we adopt a humble position before God's face and come to know the "God of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10) who wishes to grant us personally, or believers corporately, the strength for a fresh start.

Nehemiah was saddened by the ruin of the city of Jerusalem, but he knew his God. He was aware that God forgives and restores after a sincere confession of faith. God loves to bless His people; in this humble attitude Nehemiah opened his heart to receive God's blessing. Is this our experience, too?

Today's reading: Joshua 9:17-27 · 1 Corinthians 8:1-8