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Confessing guilt
“I now pray before You ... confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against You. Even I and my father's house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that You commanded Your servant Moses.” (Nehemiah 1:6-7)
Nehemiah does not pray for his personal well-being, but for that of his entire people. Therefore, he also confesses guilt on behalf of all the Israelites.
He includes himself and his family in this. He feels responsible for his ancestors' unfaithfulness toward the Lord God, even though Nehemiah himself was not even born yet when these sins were committed.
In many contemporary cultures, this is hard to imagine. Western people in particular tend to think strongly as individuals rather than as a group.
They do not feel responsible for another person's actions. So they will not confess guilt on behalf of others.
In the Bible, both the individual and the collective have a place. Romans 5 elaborates on this. Paul explains how the sin of one man (Adam) had catastrophic consequences for all mankind. Because of the transgression of this one man, all men must die. In contrast, the righteousness of one man (Jesus Christ) leads to justification and eternal life for all who believe in Him.
In addition to these collective tones, the Bible also calls for each person individually to confess their sin and accept the gift of forgiveness. Our salvation is personal, not collective.
Is your thinking primarily individualistic or more collectively stamped? How does that affect your view of sin, guilt, faith and salvation?
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About this Plan
Sometimes we face difficult, seemingly hopeless situations. How can we deal with them? Take an example from Nehemiah, who changed his people's situation for the better through prayer and work. Both were necessary, and they still are!
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