32 “Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. 33 Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. 35 Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. 36 Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. 37 And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.
(Nehemiah 9:32-37 ESV)
Nehemiah is asking the Lord, who keeps covenant with his people, to not let the hardship that came upon their kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers, and all the people seem to be little. He states that while the people have been wicked the Lord acted faithfully and he was righteous toward them. He prayed that the kings, princes, priests, and fathers did not keep the Lord’s law or pay attention to his commandments and warnings. When they were given the land they were promised they still did not turn from their wicked ways. Thus, they were slaves and the rich yield of the land goes to the kings the Lord set over the people because of their sins. The kings ruled over them and their livestock and they were in great distress.
In our time due to the sins of the people, the government the Lord has set over us is trying to take more and more of our income through excess taxes, and more of our freedom through restrictive laws creating a heavy burden and we are in great distress.
Heavenly Father, We come to you admitting our wickedness and our choice to follow our own ways neglecting to follow your commands and warnings. May our repentance cause you to heal our land and provide rulers who will remove excess restrictions on our freedom and reduction of our taxes. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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