Nehemiah 8
Scripture Introduction:
Please turn with me to Nehemiah 8. Have you ever completed a major project at home or at work, a project that seemed humanly impossible at best to complete? And then with an overflowing thankful spirit you wanted to fellowship with God? That is what is happening in this passage: the children of Israel have returned to Jerusalem, completed rebuilding the outer wall under extreme enemy opposition, and now want to fellowship with God through His Word. So, Ezra is called upon and helps them understand how they can continue to experience the joy of the Lord. If you would like to experience the joy of the Lord, please follow with me as we analyze this passage, Nehemiah 8.
Introduction:
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 8:46 am the al-Qaeda attacked the United States. They hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. Two of the airliners crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing 2,998 people and 6,291 injured excluding the 19 hijackers. Both towers collapsed within two hours destroying billions of dollars in office space. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed into a field near Shanksville in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania after passengers and members of the flight crew attempted to retake control of their plane, which was said to have been heading for The White House. No survivors from any of the flights.
The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals from over 90 different countries. The United States responded to the attacks by declaring a War on Terrorism, launching an invasion of Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, who had harbored al-Qaeda terrorists, and enacting the USA PATRIOT Act.
Aftermath: The attacks had a significant economic impact on the United States and world markets. When the stock markets reopened, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (“DJIA”) stock market index fell 1,369.7 points by the end of the week, its largest one-week point drop in history. U.S. stocks lost $1.4 trillion in value for the week.
In a speech to the USA on September 11th, President Bush said, "Today, our nation saw evil." and, "Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me."
America once again was taught the frailness of human joy. President Bush vaguely pointed Americans to the One who is able to provide indestructible joy, God. This morning I would like to point you to the joy of the Lord which is eternal and which is not dependent upon our circumstances but rather on our Savior.
PROPOSITION: Because Christ is the living Word, you are able to experience His joy through His Word.
Nehemiah begins with the rebuilding of the wall and ends with the ordering of community life according to the Law. So, within the newly-rebuilt walls and centered around the rebuilt temple, the Law reorders the life of God's people—the covenant is renewed.
Nehemiah 8 ought to challenge our complacent approach to the Bible and our tendency to associate God's Law with grudging obedience. The completion of the wall in chapter 6 sets the stage for chapter 8. God's people finally have adequate physical protection, so it is time for spiritual rebuilding. And here, after a mysterious thirteen year absence, Ezra reappears to lead the people into renewal as God's covenant people whose lives are ordered by the Law.
2 Chronicles 36:22-23 explain to us that King Cyrus of Persia was willing to allow all the believers to go back to Jerusalem but only 50,000 went about 1 out of 6 who could have gone. This indicates a low spiritual focus, 5 out of 6 said, “Life isn’t so bad here in Persia; so what if it is secular society without the Scriptures; I am not so sure I really need the Word right now.”
Ezra 7:6, tells us that Ezra was prepared to preach the Word, even though it had been 13 years since he was able to in Jerusalem. God brought Zerubbabel (a builder), Ezra (a pastor) and Nehemiah (a planner) to engineer and continue His work in Jerusalem. God’s will is for each of us to bring our spiritual gift to the local N.T. church so that His work can be completed.
Israel’s focus now turns to the Law and to its obedience. They are about to relearn the benefit of a proper relationship to the Law. But, it required they understand the Word, a major emphasis of Ezra in this chapter.
What we find in this passage is God’s method of building a church and His method of bringing joy to His people. The fundamental principle that ought to bind us together is the ministry of the Word.
How can you experience a life His joy?
I. Worship where the public reading of the Word is a priority! v. 1-7
A. You must assemble with God’s people (1-2).
1. People need to hear the Word.
2. People of all ages assembled to hear the Word.
Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
ILLUSTRATION
Johnny sits through a worship service—what should he be observing/
Mom & Dad, open their Bibles for the reading; Mom and Dad bellow out the hymns; Mom and Dad give at the offering; Mom and Dad bow their heads during prayer; Mom and Dad give attention to the Word; Mom and Dad responding to the Word!
B. You must hunger for the Word of God (3-4).
1. They had an appetite for the Word.
Joh 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Joh 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
2. They attentively soaked up the Word.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things
were so. Act 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which
were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
C. You must reverence the Word of God (5-7).
1. The people stood at the reading.
Ezra praises the Lord!
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
2. The people bowed in worship.
Transition Statement: Not only must you worship where there the public reading of the Word is a priority; but because Christ is the living Word, you must worship where expository preaching of the Word is a priority!
II. Worship where expository preaching of the Word is a priority! v. 8-12
A. Pastors must make sure the Word is clearly presented (7-11).
1. The Word conveys hope to the attentive ear.
Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
2. The Word impacts the heart of the attentive ear.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Jer 20:9 … his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Joh 6:63 … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
B. Pastors must make sure the Word is clearly understood (11-12).
1. The Word is more valuable than physical food.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
2. The Word understood brings joy to the heart.
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
How can you experience a life of His joy?
Transition Statement: First, you must worship where there the public reading of the Word is a priority; secondly, you must worship where expository preaching of the Word is a priority; and finally because Christ is the living Word, you must worship where obedience to the Word is a priority.
III. Worship where obedience to the Word is a priority! v. 13-18
A. You must remember the Word’s authority (13-14)!
Ecc 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is
better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. ESV
1. Be faithful to remain under the ministry of His Word.
2. Be reminded of God’s faithfulness to His Word.
B. You must remain loyal to the Word’s authority (15-17)!
1. The Word demands an obedient response (15-16).
2. The Word obeyed gives great gladness (16-17).
Conclusion:
How can you experience a life of His joy?
1) Worship where the public reading of the Word is a priority!
2) Worship where the expository preaching of the Word is a priority!
3) Worship where the obedience to the Word is a priority!
I wonder this morning have you had a 9-11 experience in your own life. No, it’s not the New York City 9-11 of September 11, 2001 but it is just as devastating and just as paramount in your life. It has set you back big time and you haven’t recovered. Or maybe your 9-11 isn’t as serious as September 11, 2001 was for the thousands of people that were directly affected by the terrorists but it has robbed you of your joy in the Lord.
This morning you are able to experience a life of His joy! But, it is only claimed in His way. Will you give priority to the Word of God in your life; its reading; its exposition and obedience to it? God’s Word never fails…
