Building Up in the Word of God
“And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” - Nehemiah 8:6
The story of Nehemiah and Ezra is divided into three parts. The first part takes place in the sixth century B.C. in Babylon, where the Persians, under King Cyrus, conquered the Babylonians and decreed that the exiled Israelites could return home to Jerusalem. In about 445 B.C., Nehemiah received a message from a relative, who had just returned from a visit in Jerusalem. The relative, Hanani, reported bad news: “The survivors there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” - Nehemiah 1:3. Nehemiah was determined to return to Jerusalem and help to rebuild the destroyed city. He got permission from the Persian ruler to return to his homeland.
The second part happens when Nehemiah returns to the land of his fathers and undertakes the task of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. This man of God called the Jewish leaders together and proposed the re-fortification of the holy city. They responded eagerly: "Let us rise up and build (Nehemiah 2:18)."
The third part starts with Ezra’s sermon on rebuilding the people of Israel. What does the Word of God mean to us?
Proclaiming the Word
In the book of Nehemiah, Ezra returned from exile in Babylon. Nehemiah has successfully led in the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in just 52 days. Ezra had led an expedition of the Jews back to Jerusalem from Babylon. In celebration of these miraculous events, all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They ask Ezra, their high priest and scribe, to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel.
This priest of the Most High God had, in his possession, a copy of the Scriptures. The day came when a large wooden pulpit was built near the Water Gate in Jerusalem and Ezra stood on the pulpit and read from the Scriptures.
“Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month ... “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.” - Nehemiah 8:1-9
Why did the thousands of people in Jerusalem cry when they heard the law of Moses? It had been a long time since they had heard the scriptures being read to them. But the deep emotion of the moment came from the realization that the children of Israel had drifted far from the ways of God. They wept for their sins.
At the Water Gate, Ezra, the high priest, reached deep within his soul and called the people to a higher understanding of God. He said:
“Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” - Nehemiah 8:10
But this event ends on a high note of joy. There is always a wonderful presence of peace whenever the Word of God is preached. Some people may expect somber and sad consequences when the Word of God is proclaimed. But instead, exceeding joy always fills every soul.
In many church newsletters, Bible readings are listed encouraging members to read the Bible each day. Daily reading from the Bible, brings unexpected joy to those who meditate on His word. Joy comes from biblical knowledge. God's ways may initially cause us sadness, because we will realize our sins. But joy comes because God wants to give us in His kingdom. Reading the Scriptures will bring us closer to God and will bring us exceeding joy. Life itself is enriched by the reading of God's Word. Ezra proclaimed the Word. He also called the people to follow the Word.
Following the Word
The great Christian scholar, Karl Barth, says that there are three ways in which the Word of God comes to us today. First, the Word of God is Jesus Christ. The Gospel of John says, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14)." In other words, when Christ is proclaimed and believed, when he is embraced by faith, people find the exceeding joy of God’s Word.
The second form of the Word is the written Word, the Bible. The Bible is God's Word, because it is the primary way in which we know Christ and God's ways. The Bible provides light and strength for our spiritual journey in life. The Bible provides corrections for our wrong ideas about God and enlightens us about ourselves and about life. The Bible grounds us in the reality of God.
The third form of the Word is preaching or proclaiming. This brings us back to Ezra. Not only did Ezra and his helpers read the Scripture to the people at the Water Gate; they interpreted the Word to the people. They preached the Word. Their interpretation brought the sadness of realization that the people had been living far away from the Word of God. But it also brought the gladness that God still loved them and accepted them, which brought exceeding joy. The people embraced the Word.
The interpretation of God's Word brings life. Paul writes in Romans 10:13-14, 17: “For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Understand, practice as well as interpretation is necessary for preaching to change lives. To have proclaimed the Word fully, the hearers must make the connection with their own lives. In Jerusalem, at the Water Gate when Ezra preached, the people understood the Word and applied the Word. This meant sadness for shortcomings and gladness for the grace of God. And this same experience with the Word of God has been felt by millions upon millions of people since Ezra's day till now. We all still feel sadness of our sins and joy from God’s amazing grace, every time when we read and hear the gospel.
Many come to church expecting stern rebuke because of their sins, only to discover the incomparable joy of acceptance, love, and fellowship under the Word of God. With the Word of God, many have found faith in Christ as a way of life. The Bible is a guide for our journey in life. Preaching the God of Word helps remind others of God and His ways of living life to its fullest with the greatest possible joy. The God of God’s forgiveness and grace.
Conclusion
When we begin to think about why the Jews needed their Bible, we must also begin to ask ourselves, why do we need our Bible. Humanity needs a moral standard. This standard was given to Israel, not only as a rule of law, but it was law that was established on holy ground. It was established for a relationship between human and our moral, righteous, and holy God. God still speaks to you through the Bible, for people to know what is right, and to learn what is right. Your relationship with God opens your heart, soul, mind, and body to a living relationship with our good, moral, and loving creator.
But do not keep this happiness to yourself. Therefore, dear Children of God, proclaim and preach the Word of God to others. Through our series, you learn about building our wall, or life, in ordinance with God like Nehemiah was called to build the wall of Jerusalem. But building a mighty wall for the Lord is not the end of your task. Build up your faith. Build up your family life. And build up all those who are around you. For this is good in the sight of the Lord. The exceeding joy you felt from hearing the gospel, let it be felt by another who you preach to. Build your wall and help others to build up their faith as well. Amen.
