This verse, Nehemiah 9:32, is a powerful plea to God, acknowledging His greatness and begging Him to remember the suffering of the Jewish people. Let's break down the meaning:
"Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God...": This begins with a direct address to God, emphasizing His attributes of power, majesty, and reverence. It sets the stage for a humble and earnest request.
"...who keeps covenant and loving kindness...": This reminds God of His faithfulness and steadfast love. The "covenant" refers to the agreements God made with the Jewish people, promising blessings in exchange for their obedience. "Loving kindness" (Hebrew: chesed) highlights God's unwavering commitment to His people, even when they fail.
"...don’t let all the travail seem little before you...": This is the heart of the plea. "Travail" refers to the hardships, suffering, and oppression that the Jewish people have endured. The speaker is asking God not to underestimate the magnitude of their pain and suffering. He is asking that God consider their suffering as significant.
"...that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people...": This lists the various levels of society that have suffered. It emphasizes the universality of the suffering, affecting everyone from the leaders to the common people, both past and present.
"...since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.": This provides a timeline for the suffering. The Assyrian conquest was a pivotal event that marked the beginning of a long period of exile, oppression, and hardship for the Jewish people. By referencing this historical period, the speaker is acknowledging that the suffering has been continuous and prolonged.
In summary, Nehemiah 9:32 is a prayerful request to God, acknowledging His greatness, faithfulness, and love. It asks God not to minimize the suffering of the Jewish people, which has been ongoing since the time of the Assyrian kings, affecting all members of society. It's a plea for God to remember their pain and act on their behalf.
Context within Nehemiah 9:
This verse comes after a lengthy confession of Israel's sins in Nehemiah chapter 9. The people have just rededicated themselves to God and are now acknowledging their ancestors' and their own failings, which led to the exile and suffering they have experienced. After recognizing their history, Nehemiah asks for God's mercy and deliverance based on God's promises, which brings hope.
This is a time when the Israelites have started rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and rebuilding their lives. It also comes after they start reading the laws given to Moses, and they discover how far they have strayed from the path God set. Nehemiah 9:32 is a verse that recognizes all the suffering and begs for God to consider that when he decides their fate.
This verse, Nehemiah 9:32, is a powerful plea to God, acknowledging His greatness and begging Him to remember the suffering of the Jewish people. Let's break down the meaning:
"Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God...": This begins with a direct address to God, emphasizing His attributes of power, majesty, and reverence. It sets the stage for a humble and earnest request.
"...who keeps covenant and loving kindness...": This reminds God of His faithfulness and steadfast love. The "covenant" refers to the agreements God made with the Jewish people, promising blessings in exchange for their obedience. "Loving kindness" (Hebrew: chesed) highlights God's unwavering commitment to His people, even when they fail.
"...don’t let all the travail seem little before you...": This is the heart of the plea. "Travail" refers to the hardships, suffering, and oppression that the Jewish people have endured. The speaker is asking God not to underestimate the magnitude of their pain and suffering. He is asking that God consider their suffering as significant.
"...that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all your people...": This lists the various levels of society that have suffered. It emphasizes the universality of the suffering, affecting everyone from the leaders to the common people, both past and present.
"...since the time of the kings of Assyria to this day.": This provides a timeline for the suffering. The Assyrian conquest was a pivotal event that marked the beginning of a long period of exile, oppression, and hardship for the Jewish people. By referencing this historical period, the speaker is acknowledging that the suffering has been continuous and prolonged.
In summary, Nehemiah 9:32 is a prayerful request to God, acknowledging His greatness, faithfulness, and love. It asks God not to minimize the suffering of the Jewish people, which has been ongoing since the time of the Assyrian kings, affecting all members of society. It's a plea for God to remember their pain and act on their behalf.
Context within Nehemiah 9:
This verse comes after a lengthy confession of Israel's sins in Nehemiah chapter 9. The people have just rededicated themselves to God and are now acknowledging their ancestors' and their own failings, which led to the exile and suffering they have experienced. After recognizing their history, Nehemiah asks for God's mercy and deliverance based on God's promises, which brings hope.
This is a time when the Israelites have started rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem and rebuilding their lives. It also comes after they start reading the laws given to Moses, and they discover how far they have strayed from the path God set. Nehemiah 9:32 is a verse that recognizes all the suffering and begs for God to consider that when he decides their fate.