[Revivals of the Bible Series] NEHEMIAH 8
REJOICING OVER GOD’S WORD
[Ezra 10]
There were three different groups which returned from Babylonian captivity under three different leaders. The first, led by Zerubbabel in 537-536 B.C., we have already discussed. Eighty years later the scribe Ezra led another return of exiles in 457 BC. This return is described in Ezra 7-10. They brought back about twenty five metric tons of silver and gold vessels taken from the temple by Nebuchnezzar. Without any military protection they made this long, hard, wild and dangerous journey. But they were up for the task because they had humbled themselves before God and God placed His support and protection hand upon them. Under godly Ezra a restoration definitely took place but no real renewal of the inner man occurred. Ninety two years after the first return (& 12 years after Ezra’s return) the third and final return was led by Nehemiah in 445 B.C.
Nehemiah was not looking for a task for he already had one in the upper echelons of the Persian government. But his heart was open to God and sensitive to His leading. So as Nehemiah fasted and prayed and sought God concerning the fulfillment of His promises to Israel in His Word, God touched Nehemiah and told him to go. The story of Nehemiah’s return with a third group of exiles, how he rebuilt the walls and the obstacles and opposition he over came are recorded in the first seven chapters. After he arrived he looked over the city for three days and formulated a plan to accomplish the task. The job was completed in a record 52 days (6:15). If God’s servants will work in God’s way, using God’s methods, great things can happen.
Chapters 8-10 are the core issue of the book though because they deal with the people’s spiritual condition before God. Even though they were no longer exposed to robbers or armies behind the security of new gates and walls they were required to deal with another issue. They needed a deeper spiritual life. Spiritual life only comes from the Lord and comes through His Word, prayer, confession, humbling oneself before God and deliberately turning from our wicked ways (CIM). Here too, they needed leadership. This spiritual leadership also came from Nehemiah, though he was a governmental not a religious leader, he convened the people on the Feast of Trumpets (Num. 19:1-6) for a holy convocation. Nehemiah chapter eight records one of the most joyful and spectacular celebrations of the work of God in the O.T. [Walter Kaiser, Jr. Revive Us Again. Broadman & Holman Publ. Nashville, TN. 1999. pp. 162-164] Chapter eight shows us three preparations that God uses to bring revival.
I. READING AND RETAINING THE WORD, 1-8.
II. RESPONSE TO THE WORD, 9-12.
III. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WORD, 13-18.
The spiritual renewal of the people begins with a challenge to the mind, continues with an effect on the emotions and concludes with a change of the will.
I. READ AND RETAIN THE WORD, 1-8.
A far more, desperate need than the protective walls around Jerusalem was the people’s need for the Word of God in their hearts and minds. The spiritual energy derived by completion of the gates and walls allowed God to focus His people on His Word after years of suppressing this vital need. Thus when a solemn assembly was called the people all who were old enough to understand (v. 2) came by droves to the Water Gate on the east side of the city.
The festivities occur in the new moon of the seventh month, the Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah, an eight day festival of thanksgiving. The feast days of Israel were designed to be joyous occasions, (Deut. 17:7,12,18; 14:26; 16:11,14) that brought glory to God, just as His people were designed to be joyous people who bring glory to God. [Kinda like our after church fellowships, but eight days long.] This particular celebration would be especially joyous as they thanked God for enabling them to build the wall.
A large wooden platform had been constructed (8:4) so that all the people in the assembly could see and hear the reading of the Word. The scene was memorable. Ezra was in the middle of the platform flanked by thirteen priests, six on his left hand and seven on his right. Acting on the request of the people, he brought the scroll of the law of God (8:2) and opened it in front of all (8:5). Then a most amazing thing happened. When he opened the scroll of the Word of God, immediately all the people stood up (v. 5). This was more than a token gesture, for they remained standing for the duration of the reading, which consumed most of the morning, except for those times when they broke into small groups for explanations and questions. The practice of standing while God’s Word is read is a God reverencing and honoring exercise. This simple gesture should always be connected with a desire to show thanksgiving, respect, and honor to the God of Heaven. But even more than standing we should give alertness, joy, and full attention to the hearing of the Word of God. The people here gave full attention to the Word of God and their lives were change.
Six hours each day were consumed in Bible reading and explanation. Verse 3 explains that Ezra read “from early in the morning (around 6:00 am) until midday.” In the midst of these long sessions of the reading of God’s Word, they broke up into smaller groups so that thirteen Levites could explain to the people what they had just heard (vv. 7-8). Thus it was that the famine of the hearing of the Word of God, that Amos spoke of (8:11) finally ended.
This patient “reading and explaining” of Scripture line by line, paragraph after paragraph, chapter after chapter was due to a hunger of the people for the Word of God (v. 8). May God once again grant us this kind of hunger for verse by verse reading and exposition of His Word. When He does, revival is not far away.
II. RESPOND TO THE WORD, 9-12.
The entrance of God’s Word not only gives light, it also brings great joy, but the great preparer for joy is sorrowful repentance. On hearing the Word of God and understanding it because of its explanation, the people became deeply convicted of their sin. Verse 9 states that there was much “weeping and mourning.”
Weeping is not always a sure sign of true repentance. Many weep out of embarrassment, pain, or over being caught. Here, however, the people wept openly because they felt the grief that their waywardness had caused the LORD. When they finally “understood” God’s holy standard and applied it to their lives, they wept. Without this repentance and turning from our sin there cannot be the joy and strength of revival.
It is significant to note that Nehemiah was not a member of the religious establishment nor a prophet. He had devoted himself to following God even as he worked in the secular or non-religious world. He was motived to step forward and lead because of his relationship with God. Such people are crucial to God’s work, both in church and in the world. No matter your work or role in life, use it as an opportunity to serve God.
After the people had continued mourning for sometime Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites urged the people to weep no longer. The Word from the Lord in verse ten is, “Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The authentic declaration of God’s Word joined with genuine repentance is to produce unremitting joy. It is a holy satisfying joy that exceeds all limitations of what the unrepentant heart had previously experienced. It is not something that is divorced from reality but comes from the reality of our standing before God. This joy of the Lord takes hold as those who belong to Him understand more of what He has done for us, then entering into the reality of what it means to be forgiven, cleansed, and accepted again. When this happens we experience joy. As this joy is experienced, self is forgotten and we are enabled to live for His glory. [Kaiser, 168]
The people of Nehemiah’s day were overwhelmed with joy because the Lord had again become the center of their lives. They felt secure in their relationship with Him. This security gave them a sense of well-being, protection, approval, and freedom from worry. In this security, they became conscious of their worth before God. With His blessing upon them, they felt competent to face an uncertain future. The result was strength (1 Chronicles 16:27), and this strength enables one to be obedient to His will. Such joy and fellowship with God leads to sharing with others (v. 12).
When God’s people understand the Word, there is no containing the holy joy, deep satisfaction and contentment that overtakes the believing community. And as verse twelve says, “They went their way to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to celebrate (literally, ‘make a great rejoicing’) a great festival, because they understood the words which have been made known to them.” May you also enter into the celebrations that honor God and allow Him to fill you with His joy and strength.
III. IMPLEMENT THE WORD, 13-18.
Spiritual renewal begins with a knowledge of the Word, which has its designed effect on our emotions, but it will have no lasting effect unless it affects our wills. Verses 13-18 are a concluding paragraph, demonstrating the people’s desire to know and do the will of the Lord.
The clear teaching of God’s Word should wet our appetites for more teaching of the Word. So from the second day until the seventh day the people sought out Ezra to hear more and gain further insight (vv. 13-18). As a result of joyful interacting with the Word they received the strength to apply the Word to their situation in which they were living.
A study of Scripture always calls for a response to these questions: What should I do with this knowledge? How should my life change? We must do something about what we have learned if it is to have real significance for our lives. Therefore on the fifteenth day they made temporary shelters to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Lev. 23:33-43) as Scripture had asked them to do. This practice was instituted so that they might meditated annually on God’s great deliverance from Egypt. During these days they were to think about God’s protection and guidance during their years of wandering and the fact that God still protects and guides those who refuse to grumble but trust and obey Him.
It is helpful to remember our journey also to appreciate what God has brought us through as we trusted and obeyed. Think back on a time in your life when God worked in a great way. After you have done this, thank God for His continuing work to protect you and provide for your needs. [Application Bible. Zondervan. P. 810]
Not for a 1,000 years, since the days of Joshua had this festival been held, at least in this scale (v.17). This applying the Word created a unity within the community. A new spirit of sharing, of oneness, and a linking of believers was now possible because of the new work of God wrought in their hearts by a willingness to heed the Word. They joined together obeying the Word and God poured out His blessings upon them. The spirit of renewal began to heal their divisions and they find themselves strengthened in the joy of the Lord.
CONCLUSION
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem he found more than broken walls, he found broken lives. In response he gathers the people to hear the priest Ezra read and explain God’s Word. The people understood, responded and wanted to hear more so that they could apply the Word to their lives.
Where do we stand in this matter of spiritual appetites and hunger for the Word of God? Are we experiencing the joy, strength and unity that God has for us? Are we submitting ourselves to the teaching of the Word of God and allowing Scripture to permeate our thinking, regulate our emotions and direct our wills? Only as we put into practice what is taught in the Bible can spiritual, emotion, and mental well-being become part of our experience.
So respond to the Word of the Lord. Come experience the cleansing emotional renewal, the satisfying joy, the empowering strength and the encouraging unity that comes from full fellowship with the Living God through the obeying of His Word.
