I've been teaching through the book of Nehemiah in my Tuesday night class. This week Nehemiah 9 is our focus text. The Jews have finished their rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, Ezra has read the Word of God, and now in the 9th chapter, the spiritual leaders begin what has to be one of the most powerful prayers in the Bible.
The prayer rehearses all of God's gracious dealings with His people. They confess their confidence in a gracious, merciful Lord. But they also confess that they are their fathers have sinned. The confess their rebellion. Then, in verse 16, the underscore their disobedience and confess that their deliverance into the hands of their enemies was the result of their disobedience to God. In 9:33 they confess: "However, Thou art just in all that has come upon us; For Thou hast dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly."
In spite of the fact they were back in the land, they were only what we would call a "satellite" country. They were under the domination of Persia, and were just servants. They were born to be free but had to say, "...we are today just servants because of the way we have lived."
Too many believers, instead of confessing their sin, have sought to cover it up or excuse it. That is reason restoration has not occured. We are responsible for the messes we make of our lives, not God. Real believers are those who can say, "Lord, you are right; I am wrong."
God is ready to forgive the sins of His people, but the sin God does not forgive is the sin we will not confess. Without confession, restoration will not come. Whether we are wrestling with a relationship failure, dishonesty in some area of our life, or a secret sin, we cannot be victorious without confession. I John 1:9 gives great hope to every believer when it says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." There is hope and help when WE move toward Him.