Ill:
True statements about the Bible written by children:
• (1). The first book of the Bible is called Guinessis.
• (2). Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark.
• (3). Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.
• (4). Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten amendments.
• (5). The seventh commandment is thou shalt not admit adultery.
• (6). Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
• (7). When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta.
• (8). Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.
• (9). The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 decibels.
• (10). The epistles were the wives of the apostles.
• (11). One of the opossums was St. Matthew who was also a taximan.
• (12). A Christian should have only one spouse. This is called monotony.
Background:
• The place: Persia, (Persia is the old name for Iran)
• The year: around 445/444 BC, the 20th year of King Artaxerxes reign.
• The main character: is a man called Nehemiah – who was cup-bearer to the king.
• While on duty at the palace;
• Nehemiah learns that the walls of Jerusalem, the capitol city of his homeland,
• Were broken down and destroyed,
• So he asked the king for permission to return and rebuild them,
• And King Artaxerxes sent him back to his homeland (Judah);
• Nehemiah was sent back as governor of the province with a mission to rebuild the walls.
If you know the story:
• You will remember that during the rebuilding of the city walls;
• Nehemiah faced great opposition and many difficulties:
• As we pick up the story in chapter 8 the wall is finished.
• We might say; “The task is done – job complete!”“
• But not Nehemiah!
• He is not going to put his feet up and say:
• “Everything is looking good, the task is done.”“
• “What an impressive wall”
• Or even dwell on the fact that the city is secure and safe.
The lesson for us in Chapter 8 is this:
• After reconstruction,
• There is also a need for re-instruction.
• Having met the practical and physical needs of the people;
• It is time to meet the spiritual needs of the people.
• So after reconstruction of the walls,
• There is now a need for re-instruction of the Word of God.
• Notice: As you read this passage,
• Observe that there is no mention of the wall.
• Our attention now shifts from the vision to rebuild the wall and its reconstruction;
• To the author of that same vision - not Nehemiah but God himself.
• Now before I point out 4 observations from this passage as it relates to Ezra & the scroll,
• Let’s read the text and allow the Scripture to set the stage (verse 1-4).
“all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam”.
Question: Got the picture?
Answer:
• Lots of people. A priest named Ezra.
• The scroll of God-an ancient copy of the Hebrew Scriptures.
• A pulpit.
• And a great interest in what God’s Word had to say.
Now for the four observations:
• Each having to do with the careful manner in which God’s Word was handled;
• And then applied!
Ill:
• A grey-haired old lady,
• A long standing member of her community and church,
• Shook hands with the preacher after the service one Sunday morning.
• She told him:
• “That was a wonderful sermon, just wonderful.
• Everything you said applies to someone I know.”
Ill:
• Henry Ward Beecher once gave a very striking account of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards;
• Beecher says that in the detailed doctrinal part of Jonathan Edwards’ sermon;
• The great preacher was only getting his guns into position,
• But that in his applications he opened fire on the enemy.
• If we are honest - there are too many of us as preachers;
• Who take so much time getting our guns into position;
• That we have to finish our sermons without firing a shot.
• We say that we leave the truth to do its own work.
• We trust the hearts and consciences of our hearers to apply it.
• I believe more and more that this is a great mistake.
• We need as preachers to call for a response – ‘to draw the nets in!’
The four observations:
(1). correctly handling the Scriptures starts with the reading of Scripture.
• You will observe in verse 3 that Ezra read from the book of the law,
• Probably the entire scroll of the Torah, the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
• And that those who listened "were attentive” to the book.
Ill:
• Two friends were sitting together in a café;
• When a noisy car alarm interrupted their conversation.
• One friend said: "What good are car alarms when no one pays any attention to them?"
• The other friend said "Some are quite effective,"
• "Last summer, my teenager spent a lot of time at our neighbour’s house.
• So whenever I wanted him home, I’d go out to the driveway and jostle his car."
• Question: What gets your attention?
• Answer: For these people in Nehemiah chapter 8 it was the word of God.
So in verse 3 - Ezra read from the book of the law,
• And in verse 5 we are told twice how Ezra did that:
• ‘He opened the book’.
• Notice Ezra opened it up in a place where all the people could see him.
• Ezra wanted to be seen – he wanted to communicate with these people;
• He wanted to make sure no-one missed out!
Ill:
• I was trained alongside two Counties evangelists – Bob Telford & Ivor Cooper;
• And one thing they taught me was when you stand up to preach;
• ‘You claim your ground’.
• What they meant was make sure you are comfortable.
• i.e. if there is no lectern, go and find something to rest your notes on,
• i.e. If you are far away from your congregation move closer to them or them to you.
• i.e. If possible remove any obstructions between you and your congregation.
• i.e. If you are using visual aids or a projector etc make sure it can be clearly seen.
• Now all the above ought to be the responsibility of the chair person not the preacher;
• But if they don’t do it then make sure you do!
• Claim your ground!
• Don’t let the message God gives you to share be lost;
• Because of the practicalities of the situation.
Note:
• Sometimes there are good reasons why we miss out on what God has to say to us:
• Here are three suggestions.
(1) Physical factors:
• A church may not be well ventilated, and the warm heat effects us.
• Bad lighting, poor amplification;
• Or a badly placed seat,
• i.e. Some man mountain sitting in front of you / lady hat / Church pillar.
(2) Personal factors:
• Lack of sufficient sleep.
• ill: Up too late the night before!
• ill: It may be due to the medication that we are taking;
• This can make us drowsy and effect our concentration.
(3) Dull, boring preacher:
• Were as all Christians can give a devotional; thought or insight;
• Preaching is a gift,
• And that means not everyone can preach!
• ill: If a person is boring without a Bible; they are gonna be boring with a Bible!
• That is not rocket science it is just obvious!
Quote: Martyn Lloyd-Jones
"I would say that a ’dull preacher’ is a contradiction in terms; if he is dull he is not a preacher. He may stand in a pulpit and talk, but he is certainly not a preacher."
Ill:
• Actually part of the problem we have in our type of Churches;
• Is that we don’t teach people to preach we just expect them to do it!
• Although preaching is a gift from God;
• Like all God’s gifts, it needs to be honed and shaped and developed.
• And all preaches would be wise to learn how to construct a sermon;
• How to illustrate a sermon,
• How to present a sermon etc.
• There are some good books, DVD’s out there on the subject;
• Or ask a preacher you respect for some help.
Now in Nehemiah chapter 8:
• The passage we are focussing on;
• The people certainly could not use these factors as an excuse for missing out.
• (1). Physical factor was cured when Ezra in verse 5:
• Stood up so all could see him and all could hear him,
Ill:
• Verse 4: They had a wooden stage, platform built for the occasion.
• It must have been quite large to hold thirteen men,
• With the wall behind them acting as a sounding board;
• The acoustics were probably very good.
• (2) Personnel factors.
• The crowd were not in a hurry;
• They had the time and the means and the desire to spend listening to Ezra.
Ill:
• Every preacher loves verse 3 of this chapter.
• “He read it aloud from daybreak till noon”
• For the people, there is a vitality and urgency to their listening,
• For they stand and listen for six hours.
• Isn’t that something?
• Most congregations start shifting their feet and looking at the clock;
• If the preacher goes a few minutes over time.
Ill:
• In the UK all Anglican Churches used to have a clock on the outside of their buildings,
• Reminding people when to come and worship.
• Then some one moved them to the inside of our Churches;
• Telling folks when to go home!
• (3) The Preacher:
• They certainly did not have a boring preacher - they had Ezra;
• Who captivated their attention and shared the word of the Lord with them.
• Notice that the focus was upon the Book of God,
• Not Ezra the preacher, not the occasion but the Book of God!
• Ultimately it is the word of God that is primary, not the preacher;
• That is not an excuse to use any preacher in the pulpit - gifted or not;
• But the word of God always takes precedent over everything & everyone!
• And at the end of the service there is nothing wrong in saying; “I enjoyed that!”
• But better still if at the end of a service we can say; ‘God has spoken’.
Second: correctly handling the Scriptures includes having respect for the Scriptures.
Verse 4-5:
“Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.”
• Not only were the people attentive to the book, when Ezra opened the book in their sight,
• All the people stood up.
• Those things indicate respect.
• Furthermore, there was a platform, a podium, a lectern;
• The scroll was too big to hold in your hand, it had to be placed somewhere!
• As well as being practical a podium, a lectern;
• Seems to lay emphasis on an attitude of authority.
Notice:
• That the listeners in verse 5b;
• Showed reverence to the word of God when they stood up to listen.
• ill: Standing was something done in the presence of the king
• Verse 6: They responded with “their arms lifted up”.
• This was a classic Hebrew position for prayer (ill: Praise but also open to receive God’s blessings)
• Verse 6: “they bowed down”, and prostrated themselves, “Faces to the ground”.
• In other words they humbled themselves and submitted to God by their actions.
• In verses 5-6 we have three examples;
• Of how the people showed reverence to the word of God.
Ill:
• On all our Camps & Houseparties;
• The young people know there are certain rules for our Bible sessions;
• i.e. They do not eat sweets or chew gum or drink cans of fizzy drink.
• i.e. They do not sit with their feet up on the chair in front etc.
• Now they think these kind of rules are petty and pointless;
• But they are not!
• I explain to them they are ways of showing reverence and good manners;
• First to the speaker and secondly and more importantly to the word of God.
Note: Verse 6:
“Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”
• Because the people came with the right attitude;
• They went away with the right blessing!
• These people did not just casually listening;
• This is focused attention and full concentration upon the Book of God.
Ill:
• We prepare our bodies for Church.
• We wash/shower, put on specific clothes etc.
• Question: How many of us prepare our hearts before we come?
• Question: Did we pray in advance that God will speak specifically to us or others?
• Question: Do we pray for the speaker? (partly your fault then that you got a poor sermon!)
• Question: Do we read up on the Bible passage before hand?
• Question: Do we come with the attitude of applying God’s word to our own situation?
• All these things will make a positive difference in our hearing the Word of God.
• Notice in verses 5-6 When God’s Book was opened ,
• And it was as if God were speaking.
• May that be true for this Church and those who open up the book!
• Quote: “I don’t want to hear a sermon about God, I want to hear from God!”
Third: correctly handling the Scriptures means that the truth is explained so that all can understand.
NIV:
“They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.”
Living Bible:
They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.
NASB:
“And they read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading”.
The Hebrew word that in our English Bibles is ‘translated’ means:
“To make something distinct, to separate it from something else so as to make it flow together in a meaningful fashion.”
• ill: Loaf of bread needs slicing up.
• In other words they separated the Word, the verses, the passages;
• So they fit into place in an intelligent, clear, and understandable fashion.
Question: Why was there a need to translate and make clear?
Answer:
• These people were Hebrews.
• And the scroll was written in Hebrew.
• But where had the people been living?
• According to Jewish history, they’d been in captivity for seven decades.
Ill:
• That meant some of them didn’t know what life was like outside captivity.
• They had been born in captivity and lived their entire lives among the Babylonians.
• Their whole frame of reference was Babylonian or Chaldean.
• Their language was Chaldean.
• They thought in Chaldean, their culture, their life-style was Chaldean.
• But their Book, their scriptures were written in Hebrew.
• They needed someone to translate it, explain it and make it clear!
Note:
• Not only had they been in captivity for seven decades – 70 years;
• It has been about 1,000 years between Moses receiving the Law;
• And Ezra’s reading of the Law.
• And every language changes – even Hebrew.
• Changes between conversational Hebrew and ancient Hebrew.
Ill:
• How much of this verse do you understand;
• It is taken from John Wycliffe’s version of the Bible;
• The first and oldest version in English.
‘Alle yr that traueilen & ben charged come to me & I schal filfille you. Take ye my yok on you & lerne ye of me for I am mylde and meke in herte: and ye schulen finde rest to youre soulis/ for my yoke is softe & my charge liyt’.
• Wycliffe’s translation goes back 600 years (1382);
• But between Moses and Ezra it has been about 1,000.
The job of the Bible teacher first and foremost:
• To explain the scriptures,
• To make them clear,
• To communicate their meaning to the variety of people who were listening.
Ill:
• Over the years one comment I have been grateful for as a preacher;
• Is when someone comes up at the end of the service and says;
• “Thank you, I could understand that”.
(4). correctly handling the Scriptures results in obedience to the Scriptures.
• In response to the reading of the Word of God;
• And the preaching of Ezra – in verse 16 the people responded accordingly!
• Their obedience was demonstrated in their celebration of the feast of tabernacles.
“So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim”
I learnt something while studying this passage that I had never realised before;
• I learnt that in the Hebrew language, the language of the Old Testament;
• There is no Hebrew word for ‘obey’
• The implication then in passages such as this one is;
• If you hear then you will also obey!
Ill:
• Parents when they say to their children; “Did you hear me?”
• What they are really saying is; “How come you haven’t yet done what I asked”.
Reading the Word of God:
• Like any theoretical knowledge,
• Is not an end in itself - It is a means to an end.
• Correctly handling the Bible;
• Should always result in specific, personal acts of obedience to the Scriptures.
Ill:
• Gladys Aylward was just a simple woman;
• Who did what she believed God called her to do.
• During the 1930s she left her home in England and sailed to China.
• Here she opened a home for orphaned children;
• These abandoned children had been left to starve or wander the streets;
• Until the government placed them in wretched warehouses.
• When the Japanese invaded China, Gladys was forced to flee.
• She ended up trekking through the Chinese countryside;
• For 12 days with 100 children in her care.
• In the face of extreme difficulty and danger;
• She devoted her life to becoming a mother to each of them.
• Years later when she was publicly honoured,
• She explained her amazing work like this:
• "I did not choose this. I was led into it by God.
• I’m not really more interested in children than I am in other people.
• But God gave me to understand that this is what He wanted me to do - so I did it!"
Quote:
Obedience is like a computer password to the riches of God.
Ill:
• Jesus parable of the wise and foolish builders!
• The Message paraphrases them like this:
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
28-29When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.”
