One of the great OT songs of worship…

Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.” “Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…Was followed by great truths given not to constrain but to explain how we can truly live:

You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good.

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yet still, time after time, we rebel, repent, and eventually return to you:

But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭9‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It’s the pattern of our lives on repeat isn’t it?

God’s mercies to us are new every morning and his patience with us is eternal.

Cycles of living out our faith as believers aren’t pretty, but are ageless and timeless reminders that our stories always end at the feet of a graceful and loving God.