REBUILDING THE WALLS
CHAPTER 21, "THE STORY"
Nehemiah 8:1-10
INTRODUCTION
"The Story" Teen Curriculum #21 Video
ILLUSTRATION... Safest Place At Church http://c0020248.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/082210.pdf
I ran across something the other day that reminds me that what we are doing here at church is really good for us and vital for our lives. It was an article that talked about how to stay safe in the world today:
* Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20 percent of all fatal accidents.
* Do not stay home because 17 percent of all accidents occur in the home.
* Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14 percent of all accidents occur to pedestrians.
* Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16 percent of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.
* Of the remaining 33 percent, 32 percent of all deaths occur in hospitals. Above all else, avoid hospitals.
* You will be pleased to learn that only .001 percent of all deaths occur in worship services in church. So logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!
So what we're doing today is vitally important for each one of us, but not for the reasons I just listed. Great things happen when the people of God are together. In this part of God's Story, there is much going on as God's people gather together. The people of God have been in exile because of their faithlessness for 70 years. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible are two of the books that describe the exiled people of God returning to Jerusalem to the land that God had promised them. They didn't all come back at once. The first group of about 50,000 exiles returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel who was the first governor of the area when they returned. A second group of exiles returned under Ezra, the priest and prophet. The final group returned under Nehemiah who desired to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and ended up being the second governor over the area. The people of God came together once again.
There was a whole lot going on. The people who had been living in the land were not happy that the Jews were returning and reclaiming what had been theirs. They were upset that the Jews were rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem. They were furious when Nehemiah arrived on the scene to rebuild the walls. They felt threatened by the Jews.
There were also a whole lot of negative emotions at this time among the people of God. I noticed this even when watching the video clip for this chapter in "the Story." The word "wept" occurs in Ezra twice (3:12, 10:1) and once at the beginning of the book of Nehemiah (1:4) along with the word "sad" which occurs four times (2:1-3) as it describes Nehemiah's state of mind as he thinks about his homeland. "Anger" is mentioned three times in Nehemiah (4:1, 4:7, 5:6) as the people deal with their neighbors.
Among all of this constant building and attack and stress and these negative emotions, Nehemiah and Ezra gather the people together in Nehemiah chapter 8. It is chapter 8 that we will focus on this morning and learn a little about God's Word and its deep soul-changing effect on our lives.
I. THE IMPORTANT GATHERING (VERSES 1-4)
It had been one hundred and forty years since God's people had assembled as a nation united. Nehemiah chapter 8 describes the prophet Ezra reading the Scriptures to the people. This was no easy task. First, there were tons of people gathered and having your voice heard by all of those people was most likely difficult. Second, not all of the people spoke Hebrew. Third, not all of the people were going to understand the meaning of what was read and how it related to their lives and their identity as God's people.
READ NEHEMIAH 8:1-5
"All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe 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 scribe 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. 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."
Everyone gathered around. It is interesting that the passage mentions men, women, and even children who are old enough to understand. Everyone was present for this important gathering. The Jews are finally getting it... that their children must be instructed in the way of the Lord. To be honest, this is why we have the K-5th graders stay in the worship here at NBCC for most of the service. It can be difficult to have your children in church.
ILLUSTRATION... Kids and church http://c0020248.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/082210.pdf
But funny things happen:
A mom asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One of them answered, "Because people are sleeping."
There was a brother and sister sitting together in church together. Little brother giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Little sister pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."
ILLUSTRATION... "No Mom Don't Beat Me" (p)
My dad was telling me a story this week about the child of one of his co-workers. The kid was misbehaving in church and ended up throwing a toy and causing a disruption. This reminded him of a time when I was growing up. When I grew up, I guess there was no junior church because I sat in the service with my parents. I had been acting up for a few weeks and finally my mother had enough of my misbehaving. In the middle of the sermon, she took me by the hand and was leading me out of the sanctuary. All anyone could hear was me screaming at the top of my lungs, "No Mom don't beat me!"
Parents, how can you help your children in worship? The goal is not just for them to get through the service without disturbing others around them. If that were the case you could give them a pill and put them to sleep... we rather want children who can speak and listen and understand to get something out of the experience. They learn to worship by watching you. So sing, open your Bible, listen, give, respond ... they are watching you.
I imagine the entire gathering of people there to hear the Word of God and the parents brought their children. They wanted the children to know that their identity as God's people was rooted in His Word. The passage describes Ezra reading for five hours and the people stood while he read. I love how verse three says "all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law."
Why would they do that? Why would all the people gather for five hours and stand there and listen to this man read from this book? What is so important? Why would they all gather together in one place when there is such great opposition to them even living in the land?
The people finally understood that God was trying to teach them that the Word of God as essential to their lives. Their families had just spent 70 years in exile and they had learned their lesson. It was a lesson that King David had already learned and shares with us over and over in Psalm 119. God's Word must be of central importance in our very souls and gives our lives divine direction:
Psalm 119:1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
Psalm 119:45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
Psalm 119:81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.
Psalm 119:169 May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
ILLUSTRATION... Learning Importance of God's Word (p)
Growing up, I learned the importance of being on the same page as God with his word. My family moved to Illinois when my dad was stationed at a small Army base near St Louis. Our family tried out several churches in the area as was our custom. We then tried one church where we were invited to try out something called "Bible Bowl." Bible Bowl is a ministry for youth in grades 6 to 12 which combines Bible study with Christian competition and fellowship. The purpose is to give youth a firm foundation for their faith through the systematic study, memorization, and application of Scripture (www.biblebowl.net). For the next three years, our family lived and breathed this Bible competition and studied hours upon hours and practiced, practiced, practiced. We dug deep into Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Matthew, John, and 1 & 2 Kings over those years. The championships, by the way, are held at the North American Christian Convention each year. Through that experience, I learned to love God's Word.
I am not sure how King David got his love of God's Word and how he came to understand the complete necessity of basing his life on the Word of God. As I look at his life, I think it must have come from his family. I know how I got it! The people of God understood the necessity of God's Word in their lives as they returned home to a ruined city of Jerusalem and to a region hostile to their arrival. This was an important gathering to get everyone on the same page... God's page.
II. THE IMPORTANT RESPONSE (VERSES 5-10)
READ NEHEMIAH 8:5-10
"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. 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. 7 The Levites-- Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah-- instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. 9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
I love this scene! I can't help it! The picture we get is some kind of tower platform has been erected that Ezra and 13 others stood on and read and instructed from. Around them were thousands and thousands of people... all listening and attentive... all understanding that these Words are the most important Words of life.
How did the people respond?
First, verse 5 tells us that the people of God stood out of respect for God's Word for hours on end as it was being read. In the Old Testament, people often rose to their feet when a messenger came in to give a message (Judges 3:20, Job 29:8). Ezekiel 2:1-2 describes that prophet's interaction with God, "He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." Ezra and the other 13 priests were giving the message and the people of God felt the need to stand as it was being read to them.
Second, verse 6 tells us that they raised their hands showing their dependence on God. Elsewhere in God's Word, Ezra 9:5 says, "Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God." Psalm 28:2 says, "Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place." Perhaps the people lifted their hands as a way of placing themselves below God and recognizing that He is above us... showing their awe of Him. Perhaps they were also raising their hands in an attempt to show God that they were receiving the Word of God as it was being read. In any case, they were participating in the reading and responding.
Third, verse 6 tells us that the people were not only responding physically, but also verbally as they were calling out "Amen Amen" as different parts were read. "Amen" is a word that means "so be it" (Paul Joüon, SJ, A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew). Saying the word twice shows the intensity of the feeling behind saying the word. By saying the word "Amen," the people of God were affirming the wish that God would act according to His will and His purposes. "So be it" God's way. "So be it" God's way. "Let God ultimately have His way in our lives." As different parts of Scripture were being read, different people would call out that God's will would be done in their lives as it was described in His word. They wanted God to act just as He promised in their lives.
Fourth, verse 6 shows us the people prostrated themselves at times during the reading and worshiped with their faces to the ground. This particular Hebrew phrase occurs fifteen times in the Old Testament and every single time it is followed with "to worship." There is no more humbling physical action than bowing with your face to the ground. This demonstrated absolute humility before God and His Word. For some reason Micah 6:8 popped in my head as I was reading this passage which says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." These people were most certainly acting humbly before God.
Fifth, the verse 9 describes for us that the entire time Ezra and the other priests were reading the Scriptures to the people, they were weeping. The people were so moved by the words and their tender hearts were moved by how much they did not reflect their God. This happened before during the reign of King Josiah. God's Word had been lost at some point, but found in the temple by workers renovating the temple under orders from King Josiah. 2 Kings 22:10-11 recounts for us, "Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes." King Josiah was worried about the anger of God because of how much His people were not acting in line with His Word (2 Kings 22:13). His emotions overtook him as he listened to the Word being read to him. The people in this place... were also moved.
Now, of all these five responses, four of them are encouraged by the leaders, but one is not. The leaders allowed the people to stand out of respect for God's Word. They allowed them to raise their hands and shout "Amen Amen" as they saw fit. They encouraged them to bow in worship. What one thing did Nehemiah not want the people doing? What one response were the people told to stop doing?
ILLUSTRATION... http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/a_league_of_their_own_quotes.shtml
Penny Marshall's popular 1992 comedy, A League of Their Own, sheds light on a little-known chapter of American sports history with its story of a struggling team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league was formed when the recruiting of soldiers during World War II resulted in a shortage of men's baseball teams. The AAGPBL continued after the war (until 1954), and Marshall's movie depicts the league in full swing, beginning when a savvy baseball scout finds a pair of promising new players in small-town Oregonian sisters. The sisters are signed to play for the Rockford Peaches near Chicago, whose new manager played by Tom Hanks, is a former home-run king who wrecked his career with alcoholism. They're all a bunch of underdogs. At one point in the movie, the character played by Tom Hanks reams out one of the players for losing a two-run lead for the team. She begins to cry and sob right on the field. And amongst his ranting and raving, the coach says, "There's no crying in baseball." That phrase is #54 of the top 100 all time quotes in American movies.
Now, Nehemiah and Ezra are not exactly reaming out the Jews who have gathered to listen to God's Word, but they do say something quite similar to "there's no crying in baseball." They sort of say, "there's no crying in God's Word." Nehemiah 8:10 says, "Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Nehemiah and Ezra direct the people not to approach God's Word with weeping or sorrow or guilt or regret or the tearing of clothes or sadness or hopelessness, but rather with joy and celebration. I hope that I can speak this so very clearly this morning: the overwhelming emotion that God wants you to have when looking at His Word is joy.
Guilt and shame over our sin should be felt and then pass away as we ask for forgiveness.
Chains to sinful habits are broken as we become more like Christ and gain freedom.
Anger at ourselves and anger at others should make way for grace and mercy.
Faithlessness is confessed leading to faithfulness and a deep relationship with God.
Weak faith is changed by trials and improved to be strong faith.
When our God interacts with us in His Word, He wants us to understand His holiness, goodness, mercy, love, forgiveness, grace, righteousness all of which lead to joy for us more than anything else.
We celebrate because we are forgiven by the One who can truly forgive!
We shout for joy because our God has saved us!
We have confidence that God's way of life is the absolute best way!
This response of joy is not just here in Nehemiah 8. It can be found all over the Old Testament and in the New Testament:
Leviticus 9:23-24, "Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. 24 Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown."
Acts 8:5-8, "Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city."
Acts 16:34, "The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-- he and his whole family."
1 Peter 1:8-9, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
You see, religious joy, fueled by continual dependence on God is a powerful means of strengthening the soul. With such a frame of reference, every duty or task that we do for God is worthy and delightful. In such a frame of mind, we have our relationship with Him as the priority and we avoid sin. With this as our motivation, we enjoy freedom in Christ to live and love and our hearts are renewed by God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
You see, Nehemiah chapter 8 along with these other passages give us a perspective about living our lives and living out our faith. Our relationship with God is not meant to be one ridden with guilt and "I told you so" or the feeling of dread because we can't measure up. Our relationship with God is not one that is restrictive or oppressive or controlled. A person who has a relationship with the Almighty God has a relationship with God who wills the absolute best for them and lavishes grace and mercy over and over. The Word of God calls us to be brave believers who will believe in God and live for Him. This brings joy. This brings strength.
APPLICATION
What does this mean for us?
#1 God's Story is one of grace and mercy and forgiveness. If anyone told you different, they lied or they weren't taught correctly. If someone taught you that God is "out to get you" or just waiting to pounce on you when you mess up, I am so sorry. If someone used the Bible to make you feel unloved, I am sorry. If someone ruined your view of God as a merciful Father, I am so sorry. We serve a risen Savior whose Father in Heaven loves us and forgives and wants the best for us. Period. And don't let anyone tell you different.
#2 When we share God's Story with others, we must get it right! We are God's witnesses. Those of us who already believe are like the 13 men standing on the podium leading others to a right relationship with God. We should want to tell the story of God to those around us and allow His Word to penetrate their hearts. We need to communicate grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, faithfulness, and righteousness. That is who our God is.
CONCLUSION
