Nehemiah 9:32
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
Nehemiah 9:32 is the closing plea of the Levites' confession tracing Israel's history from Sinai to servitude. It was offered in a public return to God after the law was read, when Ezra and Nehemiah humbled themselves before God. Those praying confessed both their own sins and their people's sins, pleading for pardon as though they themselves were the offenders.
In it Israel addresses God as the great, the mighty and the terrible God who keeps covenant and mercy and is faithful to His covenant. The plea asks Him not to regard as little all the trouble that has come since the time of the kings of Assyria upon kings, princes, priests, prophets, fathers and all the people. It repeats the works of the Lord in behalf of His people and points out their sins in turning from Him.
The plea rests on giving right judgments, true laws and the holy Sabbath through Moses, bread from heaven, water from the rock and promise of the land. It rests also on pardoning pride, rebellion and the molten calf, continuing the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, giving the good Spirit, manna and forty years without lack. It rests further on dividing kingdoms and nations, multiplying the people as the stars, subduing the Canaanites and giving strong cities and a fat land, then repeated deliverance by saviours when they cried, long forbearance through the Spirit in the prophets, and handing them to the peoples of the lands without utterly consuming or forsaking them as a gracious and merciful God. It belongs to Israel's account of God's goodness and the people's ingratitude.
The trouble came because sins in turning from God separated the people from Him after a long history of disobedience. He would not serve with their sins but permitted them to come under the control of heathen nations. Neither kings, princes nor fathers kept the law, heeded His commandments and testimonies, served Him in His great goodness and in the large and fat land, nor turned from wicked works. Instead they cast the law behind their backs, slew the prophets, did evil again after rest, and received God's favor without giving Him the glory due.
Israel acknowledged that God was just in all that was brought upon them and that His dealings were just, while they had done wickedly and suffered punishment for their sins. As a result they became servants in the land given to their fathers, its increase went to kings set over them because of sins, who had dominion over bodies and cattle, leaving them in great distress. Those praying pointed out the people's ingratitude. They then made a sure covenant sealed by princes, Levites and priests and pledged themselves to obey His law.
Israel's experience of receiving favor without fully appreciating it yet not being wholly forsaken is similar to that of Seventh-day Adventists, who despite given truths and help have not fully appreciated God's favors while heaven has continued to support their work. So the verse belongs to a confession of trouble and unfaithfulness joined to an appeal to covenant mercy. It exemplifies the deep repentance and return to the Lord expected when God's message is proclaimed. It is to be presented to the people as occasion requires to stand boldly in defense of truth, which will otherwise be perverted more and more into strong representations of evil unless there is decided reformation among those in positions of influence.