Nehemiah 9 Study Guide
The Israelites showed their humility and repentance in three ways:fasting, wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.
Fasting: deprivation of base needs- the Israelites wanted to come before God with Dependence
Sackcloth: Poverty before God - The Israelites wanted to come before God in Humility
Dust on their Heads: Understanding of sin - The Israelites did this to come before God in Repentance
It was limited to outward signs of their repentance. They also read from the book fo the law (the Pentatuch, The Law of Moses, which are the first 5 books of the bible), but also spending part of their day in connection to God through worship and confession. These are inward displays of their repentance. Their leaders partook in this also, showing that Israel’s repentance wasn’t an isolated event but a complete group revival.