Divine Forgiveness
W. Jay. Nehemiah 9:17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of your wonders that you did among them; but hardened their necks… I. WHAT IS NECESSARY TO RENDER THE SUBJECT INTERESTING. 1. A conviction of guilt. 2. An apprehension of our danger as transgressors. 3. A discovery of the privileges of a pardoned state. II. THE PROOFS WHICH ESTABLISH THE TRUTH OF THE DOCTRINE. 1. The provision He has made for the exercise of pardon. 2. The promptitude with which He pardons on our return, 3. His earnestness to excite us to seek after the blessing. 4. The character of those who have received pardon. 5. The number of those who obtain forgiveness. III. THE WAY IN WHICH THIS SUBJECT MAY BE ABUSED. 1. When it leads us to deny any disposition in God to punish. 2. When it encourages us to hope for pardon in ways not warranted by the Word of God. (1) Without a reference to the work of Christ. (2) Without repentance. (3) By delaying an application for it to the close of life. (4) By expecting to find this pardon in another world if we fail to obtain it in this. IV. IMPROVMENT. 1. It should yield encouragement to the brokenhearted. 2. It should afford consolation to those who have believed through grace. 3. The subject demands our admiration and praise. 4. It also calls upon us not only to admire, but to imitate (Ephesians 4:31, 32; Ephesians 5:1). (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. WEB: and refused to obey, neither were they mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn't forsake them.