Nehemiah 9:17

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.

Ver. 17. And refused to obey] Heb. To hearken. They not only not hearkened, but refused to hear reasons why they should; as having made their conclusion, and being as good as ever they meant to be. This is to add rebellion to sin; this is that stubbornness that Ahaz is taxed of and branded for, 2 Chronicles 28:25 .

Neither were mindful of thy wonders] These soon grew stale to them, as the Psalmist proves by their wicked practices, Psalms 106:13. And truly who that looketh upon our lives would ever think that God had done any wonders for us of this nation, either by sea or land, either against fireworks or water works formerly; or against a viperous brood among ourselves, here of late?

And in their rebellion appointed a captain] They once talked (in their mad mood) of doing such a thing, and therefore they are here said to have done it, Numbers 14:4; like as Joshua 24:9, it is said that Balak arose and fought with Israel; and yet the story saith no such matter. But if he did not, yet because he thought and talked of such a matter, it was a done thing before the Lord!

But thou art a God ready to pardon] Heb. A God of pardons. One that hast set up a pardon office; where pardons for penitents lie ready sealed, that the sinner may not be to seek, that he may not perish in his sins while the plaster is in providing. It is our comfort that we have to do with a forgiving, sin-pardoning God, that doth it naturally, Exodus 34:6, plentifully, Isaiah 55:7, constantly, Psalms 130:4. This should be as a perpetual picture in our hearts.

Gracious] Doing all for us gratis, et ex mero motu, out of his free and unexcited love.

And merciful] All-heart; whereby he is inclined to succour them that are in misery, notwithstanding their sins. See his non obstante, Psalms 106:8 .

Longsuffering] Heb. Long of anger, that is, long ere he will be angry; not hasty of spirit, as Proverbs 14:17; Proverbs 14:29, but wondrous patient, amidst a world of provocations.

And of great kindness] Of exceeding propensity to communicate good. The Hebrew word signifies a large quantity either continued (that is, magnitude or greatness), Psalms 48:2, or discrete (that is, multitude), Psalms 2:1,2 .

And forsookest them not] That is, not utterly, as David prayeth, Psalms 119:8, and after him Solomon, 1 Kings 8:57. When God forsaketh a people or person, woe be to them, Hosea 9:12. What a terrible text is that, Ezekiel 22:20, "I will gather you in mine anger, and my fury, and I will leave you there!" and that other, Jeremiah 16:13, "I will cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not … where I will not show you favour!" This last was worse than all the rest. This the prophet well knew, and therefore cried out, Lord, leave us not, Jeremiah 17:17 .

Extingui lucem ne patiare tuam.

Or if thou desert us for a time, yet do not disinherit us for ever. If thy dereliction of us be penal, yet let it not be perpetual (Mos. Gerundin).