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The Bible is a rich document that provides us details and ideas into who God is. Three New Testament descriptions say that He is something: Spirit (John 4:24), Light (1 John 1:5), and Love (1 John 4:8). Yet, the Bible from cover to cover shows us much more about who God is. We really want to know who God is because after all we are His Children and we are called to be like Him. He is the reason we can assemble together to Worship. He is the reason we can gather together to Pray. He is the reason we can live! In Nehemiah 9, eight Levites led Judah in a “praise service.” That is, these priests exhorted God’s people to praise God for His Nature. Read Nehemiah 9 and notice how they are encouraging these people.
His Exalted Nature (Nehemiah 9:5-6): Notice God’s attributes, as mentioned here. He is the Exalted One. He is Lord. He is the Creator. He is the Sustainer. He is the only subject Worthy of Worship.
His Extending Nature (Nehemiah 9:7-8): His Extending Nature is illustrated by Abraham and the covenant made with him. For Abraham, He chose (7), brought out (7), named him (7), found his heart faithful (8), made a covenant with him (8), gave him Canaan (8), and preformed His words (8).
His Expressed Nature (Nehemiah 9:9-15): His activity is noted from Egypt to the Red Sea, from Mount Sinai to the desert. God provided all power and ability with the most remarkable and memorable acts of all history.
His Enduring Nature (Nehemiah 9:16-38): This means that God put up with and was longsuffering toward Israel for what they had done against Him! They disobeyed, ignored, and rebelled. Yet, notice that the priests noticed God’s persistent longsuffering from Moses’ generation all the way until captivity was over. God was good to them.
Remember that we have access to the longsuffering of God and we can always choose stand upon the side of God!
Jonathan Burns
Findlay church of Christ
Sparta, TN