Gracious and Merciful, Slow to Anger

In Nehemiah 9, we find God’s people confessing, fasting, praying, reminiscing and covenanting. It has only been a month since the wall has been completed, and they have now finished celebrating the fall feasts of the “seventh month,” which are Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles. Now, it’s the 24th day and there is no required gathering... but they gather on their own to recount God’s forbearance. The Levites lead them in a prayer that covers the entire history of the Old Testament. In this prayer, God is, “gracious and merciful, slow to anger...” But why?