Confession Study #4

Nehemiah 1:1-7
These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah.

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, I, Nehemiah, was in the capital city of Susa. One of my brothers named Hanani came with some other men from Judah. I asked them about Jerusalem and the Jewish people who lived through the captivity.

They answered me, "Those who are left from the captivity are back in Judah, but they are in much trouble and are full of shame. The wall around Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned."

When I heard these things, I sat down and cried for several days. I was sad and fasted. I prayed to the God of heaven, "Lord, God of heaven, you are the great God who is to be respected. You are loyal, and you keep your agreement with those who love you and obey your commands. Look and listen carefully. Hear the prayer that I, your servant, am praying to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we Israelites have done against you. My father's family and I have sinned against you. We have been wicked toward you and have not obeyed the commands, rules, and laws you gave your servant Moses.

• You can see the humility of Nehemiah here. It's humbling to read it. It is interesting how he takes on the sins of others in his confession. He chooses we instead of I...

Ezra 10:1-4, 9-11
As Ezra was praying and confessing and crying and throwing himself down in front of the Temple, a large group of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him who were also crying loudly. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel the Elamite said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying women from the peoples around us. But even so, there is still hope for Israel. Now let us make an agreement before our God. We will send away all these women and their children as you and those who respect the commands of our God advise. Let it be done to obey God's Teachings. Get up, Ezra. You are in charge, and we will support you. Have courage and do it."

So within three days all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered in Jerusalem. It was the twentieth day of the ninth month. All the men were sitting in the open place in front of the Temple and were upset because of the meeting and because it was raining. Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful and have married non-Jewish women. You have made Israel more guilty. Now, confess it to the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Do his will and separate yourselves from the people living around you and from your non-Jewish wives."

• Confession to the Lord is how confession should be done. If you don't confess it to God, but just people, then I think you are wasting your time. God should be who confession is mainly done to but people should be included, mainly someone who is in your life on a consistent basis.

1 Samuel 7:5-6
Samuel said, "All Israel must meet at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you." So the Israelites met together at Mizpah. They drew water from the ground and poured it out before the Lord and fasted that day. They confessed, "We have sinned against the Lord." And Samuel served as judge of Israel at Mizpah.

• Because you sin against the Lord is the reason you should confess to the Lord. But notice, as they confessed, Samuel was the one that was there. The confessed to a spiritual guide (Samuel) and to God.

Joshua 7:19-21
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, tell the truth. Confess to the Lord, the God of Israel. Tell me what you did, and don't try to hide anything from me."

Achan answered, "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did: Among the things I saw was a beautiful coat from Babylonia and about five pounds of silver and more than one and one-fourth pounds of gold. I wanted these things very much for myself, so I took them. You will find them buried in the ground under my tent, with the silver underneath."

• Sin in secret will be found out somehow and someway.