Nehemiah 8:5-6
Prepared for Delivery as the Keynote Address
Magic City Lectureship • Birmingham, Alabama
Monday, September 11, 2000 at 8:00 p.m.
PRELIMINARIES
In the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus...my soul is just glad to be here. To my good friends who serve as co-anchors of this lectureship, brothers Peter Moss, Steve Clark, W.C. Edwards and Elijah Bush, I thank you for this opportunity to address the saints in Birmingham, and I encourage you to continue in this great work you have begun and perpetuated. I count it an honor to be associated with men of your caliber, and I am always praying on your behalf. To this audience, we appreciate so much your coming out and supporting this effort. We are delighted tonight to have members from the NorthPointe Church in Montgomery with us. They are strong supporters of the Word, strong supporters of the Church, and strong supporters of their preacher, and I am humbled and encouraged by your presence tonight. The text that has been assigned to me tonight comes from Nehemiah, chapter 8 and verses 5 and 6. Would you please stand and read this aloud with me? Nehemiah 8: 5-6:
THE TEXT
"And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above
all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra
blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen,
with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the
Lord with their faces to the ground."
The subject that has been given to me...WHEN IS IT TIME TO SHOUT?
INTRODUCTION
In the context of current society the overriding emphasis in a great number of congregations today has been placed on emotionalism, and that, in and of itself is not wrong. It should be noted that emotionalism that grows out of knowledge...knowledge of who God is and what God does, is a good thing, but emotionalism by itself is dangerous and empty. Behind every act of emotionalism there must be self examination of motive. By the same token, the stoic, ritualistic and formal approach is just as dangerous because it does not encourage a real connection to God, but rather a connection to tradition as a god. There are elements of our corporate worship that are beautiful, especially when they involve a sense of pageantry, for example, white gloves while serving communion or dim lights during moments of prayer...however, as with the shouting, all of these are mere outward representations that can prove to be true or false by the actual lives that we live. That is why true worship is based on “spirit and truth.” True worship may incorporate both approaches to God, or one of these approaches to God, but true worshippers never take opportunity to force their own approach to God on someone else. Worship is not about what we do in the presence of others, but rather what we do in the presence of God...not about being acceptable to each other, but being acceptable to God.
Hear Paul in Romans 14:4:
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he
standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be held up: for God is able to make
him stand.
Our selected text tonight deals with this issue in a very clear and concise manner.
As a means of background, Nehemiah was the third great leader in the Jewish restoration. He had led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem, and led the massive project which rebuilt the cities walls. The cities walls had been destroyed as they suffered defeat abd became enslaved. While most of the Israelites were in bondage, a remnant remained in Jerusalem, however, Jerusalem was desecrated. Not only was it desecrated physically, but it was desecrated spiritually. By the time we get to chapter 8, Nehemiah has invigorated and inspired the people to move, out of a sense of pride and character, to rebuild the walls, and now, the man of God, Ezra, begins the process of the people rebuilding their spiritual lives.
On the first day of the seventh month (verse 2) the people gathered together for a holy convocation, the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24, 25), which typified the regathering of Israel from among the Gentile nations. Standing on a special platform and flanked by thirteen Levites, EZRA READ FROM THE LAW OF MOSES for several hours. Three things, I believe, in this text, can give us an idea of WHEN IS IT TIME TO SHOUT:
I. IT’S TIME TO SHOUT WHEN THE LORD IS HEARD.
II. IT’S TIME TO SHOUT WHEN THE LORD IS PRAISED.
III. IT’S TIME TO SHOUT WHEN THE LORD IS WORSHIPED.
Ya’ll gonna give me a little time?
I. IT’S TIME TO SHOUT WHEN THE LORD IS HEARD...
The text has us to know that "Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people."
When Ezra stood before the people and opened the book, they stood up to receive the WORD OF THE LORD. When the Word was read, they responded by standing on their feet! Part of this was a cultural response, this is what they did when great edicts or announcements were read, but part of this was also rooted in their complete reverence of the THE WORD OF THE LORD.
The opening of the Book, or the Scriptures, is indicative of the fact that Ezra was speaking to the people concerning the Word of the Lord, and I’m just kind of funny, but whenever I hear a word from the Lord, I think it’s time to shout! We hear so much in our society today that has nothing to do with nothing. Mindless talk, irresponsible talk, inconsequential talk, but when someone stands before me and declares the Word of the Lord, that’s music to my soul! It is in the word of the Lord that my soul has found a resting place.
I believe He means what He says...and when I’m needing comfort and assurance
I want to hear His Word...
"Let not your heart be troubled..."
When I’m talked about, I want to hear His Word...
"Blessed are you, when men shall revile you and persecute you,
and speak all manner of evil against you, falsely..."
When I’ve lost loved ones, I want to hear His Word...
"Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted."
When I worry about tomorrow, I want to hear His Word...
"Tomorrow will take care of itself."
When I begin to lay up treasures here, I want to hear His Word...
"Lay up your treasures in heaven!"
When I can’t find my way, can’t discern the truth, question the purpose of my life, I want to hear His Words...
"I am the way, the truth and the life!"
When I get restless, and begin to doubt His existence, amidst all of the turmoil in this present world, I may desire to pop some pills, drown my sorrows in alcohol, go get a gun, take vengeance into my own hands, give up on life...when I feel that no one cares, no one loves, and no one will be my side, I want to hear His words...
"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world!"
THANK GOD FOR PREACHERS WHO WILL SIMPLY DELIVER HIS WORD!
It is the WORD OF THE LORD that spoke to me of my lostness.
It is the WORD OF THE LORD that speaks to me of my Savior.
It is the WORD OF THE LORD that speaks to me of my salvation...
and It is the WORD OF THE LORD that speaks to me of my victory!
I thank God that I have been delivered from the WORDS OF MEN, and I stand now confidently rooted in THE WORD OF THE LORD. I understand now more completely the Psalm that declares: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night!" WHEN THE LORD IS HEARD, IS SHOUTING TIME!
II. IT’S TIME TO SHOUT WHEN THE LORD IS PRAISED....
Our text has us to know that not only did Ezra read from the book, he also, "Blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with ifting up their hands." The word ’Blessed" in the NIV is rendered "praised." So Ezra praised the Lord before the people, and the people lifted up their hands and said, Amen! Amen!!
• I can just imagine that as the people of Israel thought about how far God
had brought them, they felt a need to say Amen!
• I can just imagine that when they considered their bondage, and the fact
that they have now been freed, they felt a need to say Amen!
• I can just imagine that when they surveyed the city, and saw the newly built
walls that they erected in spite of obstacles and adversaries,
they felt the need to say Amen!
Whenever God does something for you,
Whenever God does something to you,
Whenever God does something through you,
you oughtta feel the need to say AMEN
Religion may begin with an emotional response; but the time comes when that emotional response has to be thought out. Beyond the shouting and the clapping and the raising of the hands and the patting of the feet and the enthusiastic, [and appreciated] shouts of preach, brother and praise the Lord, religion is never safe until a man can tell, not only what he believes, but why he believes it! Religion is hope, but it is hope with reason behind it!
I Peter 3:15:
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear.”
And I put emphasis on “you” because while we may praise, in this place, in a corporate manner, or together, praise is still an individual response based on an individual relationship and knowledge of the Lord...what He is to you, what He’s done for you, what He’s doing through you...ya’ll got time for a little of this this evening? You see, when David gave his testimony in Psalm 23, by saying “the Lord is MY shepherd”...he wasn’t talking about the Lord being your shepherd, he wasn’t talking about the Lord being my shepherd...he was testifying to a personal experience he had with the Lord, and what it had meant to him...am I saying that what David said is not important...no, what I’m saying is don’t forget that this is a personal testimony, and every child of God ought to have his or her own testimony! When Job said in the 14 chapter and verse 14 of his account, “All the days of MY appointed time, will I wait, till MY change come,” he was talking about what he was experiencing, what he was going through, during his own personal walk with God...and just as these testimonies of saints gone by can be encouraging and instructive and inspirational to us today, I encourage you to never forget that God still works for, with, and through His saints today!
• When that old sister begins to shout,
because God has brought her a mighty long way,
• when that brother begins to weep
and praise God for his restoration of health,
• when that mother raises her hand in appreciation to the Lord
for returning a wayward child home...
• when somebody is just glad that they were able to get out of bed this morning...
I don’t want to be on the side telling them to hush their mouth and keep the noise down...they are not ignorant enough to believe:
• that they’ve done it all by themselves,
• that they’ve won battles by themselves,
• that they’ve climbed up the rough side of the mountain by themselves,
• that they’ve come through the storm and rain by themselves...
they are testifying to their knowledge of what God has done with them...that’s not ignorant praise, that’s knowledgeable praise!
Some folk know who got them up this morning!
Some folk know who started them on their way!
Some folk know that if they just hold on to the end,
God will exalt the humble, and He’ll bring down the proud...
Some folk know that it’s not the insulin that keeps them alive!
Some folk know that it’s not the employer who keeps food on their table,
Some folk know that it’s not the landlord who keeps a roof over their heads!
Some folk know that it’s just God, and God is Good...all the time.
YEAH, WHEN THE LORD IS BEING PRAISED, IT’S SHOUTING TIME!
I know what he did for Daniel...but I praise HIm for what He’s done for ME!
JOB, ELIJAH, NAAMAN, DAVID, THE SAMARITAN WOMAN, THE BLIND MAN...
III. IT IS TIME TO SHOUT WHEN THE LORD IS WORSHIPED...
Back to the text, not only is Ezra reading the Word, not only is Ezra praising the Lord, but in the midst of the praise, the people begin to worship. The text says, "they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground..."
It is significant to point out that praise and worship are not the same thing. To praise is "to lift up, to admire, to commend. Worship is much more than that, but it can be argued that worship cannot take place until one has learned to praise. We even see this magnified when the psalmist declares that we should enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise." Thanksgiving and praise must precede true worship. True worship is when man, through his spirit, reaches friendship and intimacy with God. Genuine worship does not consist in coming to a certain place nor in going through a certain ritual or liturgy, nor even in bringing certain gifts. True worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets with God, himself immortal and invisible.
There comes a time in all of our lives when we stand speechless before God. Like Isaiah who understood his complete sense of inadequacy, there is something awesome about our God.
"In the year that King Uzziah died", Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the
seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with
twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another,
and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
And the posts of the door moved as the voice of him that cried, and the house was
filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a
man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine
eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isaiah 6:1-5)
Worship is a special combination of gifts from the mind and heart poured out in the presence of God. Thus, worship should have these motivations:
(1) making obeisance to someone greater,
(2) of feeling awe in His presence,
(3) reverently bowing our knees before Him,
(4) humbly offering our lives in sacrificial service to Him, and
(5) establishing a pattern of life consistent with our worship.
The shout that pours out from worship is almost a guttural moan of such awe and respect and complete admiration...It’s about what happens to us when we realize we are in the presence of God. It’s what the wise men from the east experienced when they saw the bright star and heard the angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus. When they entered into that stable and when their eyes were fixed on the baby Jesus, the Bible says "they fell down and worshiped Him." (Matthew 2:11).
It’s what happened to Peter that night when the disciples were huddled together in a ship that was being tossed about but the stormy sea...late in the fourth watch of the night they saw what they supposed to be a ghost walking ion the water, but the Word of the Lord came forth, and Jesus identified himself, and Peter begged the Lord to allow him to step out on the water. As Peter walked on the water, he took his eyes off Jesus, and in his fear he began to sink, but the Master, the Lord, God in the flesh, stretched forth his hand, and caught him...get the picture,. He takes Peter by the arm, lifts him up, places him back in the oat, and as soon as Jesus takes his foot off the sea and places it in the boat, the rain and the wind ceased. The Bible says that those who were in the ship came, and worshiped him, saying of a truth, thou art the Son of God. (Matthew 14:33).
It’s what the Gentile woman experienced when she besought help for her child only to find Jesus turning away from her. She wouldn’t take no for answer, she fell down, and she began to worship Him, and he could fought her...yes, he did! He said, "it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs," but she said, Yes, Lord, you speak the truth, but even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table...I don’t want the loaf, Lord, just the crumbs...all this woman had was a prayer and a heart of worship which caused her to fall at his feet, and the Master could not resist...O woman, he declared, great is thy faith (Matthew 15:25.)
It is the kind of awe-inspiring scene that prompted Reginald Heber to pen these priceless words:
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Early in the morning,
Our song shal rise to thee,
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons,
blessed Trinity.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
all the saints adore thee
casting down their golden crowens
around the crystal sea,
Cherubim and Seraphim,
falling down beside thee,
Who wast and art and
ever more shall be.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
tho the darkness hide thee
tho the eye of sinful man
thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy,
there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in powr, in love and purity
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
all thy works shall praise thy name
in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
merciful and mighty,
God in Three Persons,
Blesed Trinity.
