1. Nehemiah 1:5 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who is meant by “those who love him and keep his commandments”?

Nehemiah 1:5 (ESV)

5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

The covenant God made with his people (though one-sided in origin) is two-sided in execution. From his side, the Lord is always faithful (he keeps covenant and steadfast love). His covenant partners also have an obligation to be loyal to God. That loyalty looks like love for God, delight in God, and devotion to him. That love expresses itself in obedience to his commandments. In his sermon to Israel, Moses drew out numerous times what this love and obedience was to look like in practice (Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Deuteronomy 11:1–7).