Nehemiah 9:16-17 But they and their fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and heartened not to Thy commandments, 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.
In the celebration of the building of the wall and the Feast of Tabernacles the Levites proclaimed a prayer of praise to God. They recounted all God’s works and wonders. Then they confessed all the sin and rebellion and unbelief of God’s saved people. They disobeyed and hardened their necks. But in spite of all that God is still God and God is still good.
The common refrain describing the nature of the Lord is then proclaimed. It is because of who God is that He forgives, and does not forsake them; it is not because of who we are. We do not deserve forgiveness and we should be forsaken by God. For us, too, God is ready to pardon, He is gracious and merciful, He slow to anger, and He is super kind. This is the promise. God is ready to pardon, and so He sent His Son to justly forgive all sins. That’s a promise. God promises to act with grace and mercy toward us because of Christ. God promises to be patient and kind, showing more patience and kindness than we will ever experience from humans.
If these promises were contrary to the Lord’s nature and character we may have a reason to doubt the promise. But God is love, and this is how He proved it: He sent His Son. Now we know for sure; we can believe it; and now we have life. Who is God? God is love. How do I know? Jesus died for us. We joyfully thank the Lord for His sure word.