I Was Made For This: Week 1 - Friday

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5

As we have studied Nehemiah chapter 1 this week, we have seen Nehemiah's response to a divine burden that God gave him. While he served as a cupbearer of the king of Persia, he found out that the state of affairs in Jerusalem was not good. Specifically, he found out that the walls of Jerusalem, which symbolized protection and strength, had been torn down. This truth grieved him deeply. After weeping and fasting, Nehemiah prayed. First in his prayer, he acknowledged God’s character, beginning his prayer by recognizing whom He was praying to: the faithful God of the universe who is in control of everything. Today in our Bible study, we are going to look at the second part of Nehemiah’s prayer: confession of his sins and the sins of the Israelites. 

Nehemiah's prayer over his divine burden, the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, began with praising God for his character. Next, he prayed, "Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you" (verse 6). Nehemiah did not shy away from admitting that the people of Israel had sinned. They had given in to idolatry. They had refused to confess their sins. This broke God's heart. Nehemiah did not stop there, however. He recognized his own sins and his family's sins. He continued his prayer, saying, "Yes, even my own family and I have sinned!” (verse 6). Nehemiah knew that he had played a part in the current circumstances of the state of Jerusalem, and he acknowledged that to God. He did not just blame the Israelites. He blamed himself for the situation they found themselves in. He did not wallow in his sins, however. Instead, he confessed them. As he confessed his sins, he acknowledged just how heartbreaking these sins were. He said, "We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses" (verse 7). Nehemiah knew that he, his family, and the rest of Israel had made mistakes and sinned greatly, and he acknowledged that to God. 

There is great peace and joy that can be found when we confess our sins. Nehemiah experienced that joy and peace. So did David, author of many Psalms, and he wrote about it in Psalm 32. He wrote in this passage of Scripture, "What joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!" (verse 2). He continued, writing, "When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long…Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone" (verses 3 and 5). Can you sense the peace and joy David felt from these words he wrote? There is immense joy, peace, and freedom when we confess our sins to God. 

Like Nehemiah and David, we, too, can follow in their example by confessing our sins to God. We can confess any sins that may have played a role in the situation that has burdened our hearts, even if that role is just apathy. Will you confess your sins to God today? If you do, you will find freedom, joy, and peace.

Moving Toward Action

Take a few moments to pray about your divine burden to God. As you pray, confess any sin to God. Tell Him you are sorry for your sin and confess how that sin has broken His heart. Commit to walking away from that sin and ask Him to help you as you seek to do this. 

Going Deeper

Psalm 32:1-11