5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Our selected text this morning deals with this issue in a very clear and concise manner.
As a means of background, Nehemiah was the third great leader in the Jewish restoration. He had led a group of exiles back to Jerusalem, and led the massive project which rebuilt the cities walls.
The cities walls had been destroyed as they suffered defeat and became enslaved. While most of the Israelites were in bondage, a remnant remained in Jerusalem, however, Jerusalem was desecrated.
Not only was it desecrated physically, but it was desecrated spiritually. By the time we get to chapter 8, Nehemiah has invigorated and inspired the people to move, out of a sense of pride and character, to rebuild the walls, and now, the man of God, Ezra, begins the process of the people rebuilding their spiritual lives.
On the first day of the seventh month (verse 2) the people gathered together for a Holy Convocation, the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24, 25), which typified the regathering of Israel from among the Gentile nations.
Standing on a special platform and flanked by thirteen Levites, Ezra read from the Law of Moses for several hours. When looking at this text I believe that there are three things in this text, can give us an idea of when is it time to shout.
Ya’ll gonna give me a little time?
I. It’s time to shout when the Lord is heard.
The text has us to know that "Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people."
When Ezra stood before the people and opened the book, they stood up to receive the Word of The Lord. When the Word was read, they responded by standing on their feet. Part of this was a cultural response, this is what they did when great edicts or announcements were read, but part of this was also rooted in their complete reverence of The Word of the Lord.
The opening of the Book, or the Scriptures, is indicative of the fact that Ezra was speaking to the people concerning the Word of the Lord, and I’m just kind of funny, but whenever I hear a word from the Lord, I think it’s time to shout!
We hear so much in our society today that has nothing to do with nothing. Mindless talk, irresponsible talk, inconsequential talk, but when someone stands before me and declares the Word of the Lord, that’s music to my soul! It is in the word of the Lord that my soul has found a resting place.
I believe He means what He says...and when I need comfort and assurance I want to hear His Word that say "Let not your heart be troubled.
When I’m talked about, I want to hear His Word the Word that says Blessed are you, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and speak all manner of evil against you, falsely.
When I’ve lost loved ones, I want to hear His Word that says
"Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted."
When I’m worry about tomorrow, I want to hear His Word say, that tomorrow will take care of itself.
When I begin to lay up treasures here, I want to hear His Word. "Lay up your treasures in heaven!"
When I can’t find my way, can’t discern the truth, question the purpose of my life, I want to hear His Words, "I am the way, the truth and the life.
When I get restless, and begin to doubt His existence, amidst all of the turmoil in this present world, I may desire to pop some pills, drown my sorrows in alcohol, go get a gun, take vengeance into my own hands, give up on life...when I feel that no one cares, no one loves, and no one will be my side, I want to hear His words... Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world!
Thank God for preachers who will simply deliver his Word.
It is the Word of the Lord that spoke to me of my lostness.
It is the Word of the Lord that speaks to me of my Savior.
It is the Word of the Lord that speaks to me of my salvation and, it is the Word of the Lord that speaks to me of my victory.
I thank God that I have been delivered from the Word of men, and I stand now confidently rooted in the Word of the Lord.
I understand now more completely the Psalm that declares:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night!" When the Lord is heard, it’s shouting time.
When is it time to shout? It’s time to shout when the Lord is heard.
But then “It’s time to shout when the Lord is praised”.
Our text has us to know that not only did Ezra read from the book, but he also, "Blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands."
The word ’Blessed" in the NIV is rendered "praised." So Ezra praised the Lord before the people, and the people lifted up their hands and said, Amen. Amen.
• I can just imagine that as the people of Israel thought about how far God had brought them, and they felt a need to say Amen!
• I can just imagine that when they considered their bondage, and the fact that they have now been freed, they felt a need to say Amen.
• I can just imagine that when they surveyed the city, and saw the newly built walls that they erected in spite of all of the obstacles and adversaries, they felt the need to say Amen.
Whenever God does something for you,
Whenever God does something to you,
Whenever God does something through you, you we ought to feel the need to say Amen.
Allow me to survey the room this morning, and if your answer is yes then you ought to say.
Has God been good to you?
Has God been a provider for you?
Has God kept you in danger seen and unseen? Then you ought to shout amen.
Religion may begin with an emotional response; but the time comes when that emotional response has to be thought out. Beyond the shouting and the clapping and the raising of the hands and the patting of the feet and the enthusiastic, [and appreciated] shouts of preach, brother and praise the Lord, religion is never safe until a man can tell, not only what he believes, but why he believes it! Religion is hope, but it is hope with reason behind it!
1st Peter 3:15 says:
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
And I put emphasis on “you” because while we may praise, in this place, in a corporate manner, or together, praise is still an individual response based on an individual relationship and knowledge of the Lord of what, and who He is to you, what He’s done for you, what He’s doing through you. if you all have time for a little this morning.
I want to tell you that David gave his testimony in Psalm 23, by saying “the Lord is MY shepherd” he wasn’t talking about the Lord being your shepherd, he wasn’t talking about the Lord being my shepherd, he was testifying to a personal experience he had with the Lord, and what it had meant to him, am I saying that what David said is not important? No, what I’m saying is don’t forget that this is a personal testimony, and every child of God ought to have his or her own testimony.
When Job said in the 14th chapter and verse 14 of his account, the days of my appointed time, will I wait, till my change come,” he was talking about what he was experiencing, he was talking about what he was going through, during his own personal walk with God, and just as these testimonies of Saints that are gone by, it can be encouraging, informative and inspirational to us today, I encourage you to never forget that God still works for, with, and through us.
• When we hear some of the seasoned Saint as they begin to shout, they are shouting because God has brought them not only a long way, but he has brought them all of the way.
• When we see that that brother begins to weep and Praise God for his restoration of health, it’s because he know God as a healer.
• When that mother raises her hand in appreciation to the Lord
for returning a wayward child home, she is testifying that God can bring the prodigal one back home.
• When somebody is just glad that they were able to get out of bed this morning, and they know that they we sick unto death, and we see them shouting all over the place, it’s their testimony that he woke them up this morning and started them on their way.
And that’s why I don’t want to be on the side telling them to hush their mouth and keep the noise down. because they know and believe:
• that they couldn’t do it all by themselves,
• they know that they didn’t win the battles by themselves,
• they know that they couldn’t climbed up the rough side of the mountain by themselves,
• that they’ve come through the storm and rain by themselves. they are testifying to their knowledge of what God has done for and with them. And may I tell you that; that is a praise that is a knowledgeable praise.
Some people know who got them up this morning.
Some people know who started them on their way.
Some people know that if they just hold on to the end, God will exalt the humble, and He’ll bring down the proud.
Some people know that it’s not the insulin that keeping them alive.
Somebody here knows that it’s not the employer who keeps food on their table.
Somebody here knows that it’s not the landlord who keeping a roof over their heads.
Somebody here knows that it’s just God, and only and if that you, then you ought to shout AMENNN.
Yeah, when the Lord is being praised, it’s shouting time.
You see I know what he did for Daniel, but I need praise Him for what He’s done for ME. Job, I know about what he did for you. Elijah, I undertand. Naaman, I feel you. David I got you, Samaritan Woman I recognize what he has done, Blind Man I see what he done, but I’ve got to have my own testimony of what he has done for me.
It’s time to shout when the Lord is heard.
It’s time to shout when the Lord is praised.
But it’s also time to shout when the Lord is worshiped.
So, the text says, not only is Ezra reading the Word, not only is Ezra praising the Lord, but in the midst of the praise, the people begin to worship. The text says, that they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
It is significant to point out that praise and worship are not the same thing. To praise is "to lift up, to admire, too commend.
But Worship is much more than that; and it can be argued that worship cannot take place, until one has learned to praise. We even see this magnified when the psalmist declares that we should enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise."
Thanksgiving and praise must precede true worship. True worship is when man, through his spirit, reaches friendship and intimacy with God.
Genuine worship does not consist in coming to a certain place nor in going through a certain ritual or liturgy, nor even in bringing certain gifts. True worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets with God, himself immortal and invisible.
There comes a time in all of our lives when we stand speechless before God. Like Isaiah who understood his complete sense of inadequacy, there is something awesome about our God.
(Isaiah 6:1-5) In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with
twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
And the posts of the door moved as the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine
eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
Worship is a special combination of gifts from the mind and heart poured out in the presence of God. Thus, worship should have these motivations:
(1) Making obeisance to someone greater,
(2) Of feeling awe in His presence,
(3) Reverently bowing our knees before Him,
(4) Humbly offering our lives in sacrificial service to Him, and
(5) Establishing a pattern of life consistent with our worship.
The shout that pours out from worship is almost a rasping, guttural, and gruffing moan of such awe and respect with a complete admiration.
It’s about what happens to us when we realize we are in the presence of God. It’s what the wise men from the east experienced when they saw the bright star and heard the angelic announcement of the birth of Jesus. When they entered into that stable and when their eyes were fixed on the baby Jesus, the Bible says "they fell down and worshiped Him." (Matthew 2:11).
It’s what happened to Peter that night when the disciples were huddled together in a ship that was being tossed about but the stormy sea, late in the fourth watch of the night they saw what they supposed to be a ghost walking ion the water, but the Word of the Lord came forth, and Jesus identified himself, and Peter begged the Lord to allow him to step out on the water.
As Peter walked on the water, it was when he took his eyes off Jesus, that his fear he began to sink, but the Master, the Lord, God in the flesh, stretched forth his hand, and caught him.
He takes Peter by the arm, lifts him up, places him back in the oat, and as soon as Jesus takes his foot off the sea and places it in the boat, the rain and the wind ceased. The Bible says that those who were in the ship came, and worshiped him, saying of a truth, thou art the Son of God. (Matthew 14:33).
It’s what the Gentile woman experienced.
It is the kind of awe-inspiring scene that prompted Reginald Heber to pen these priceless words:
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Early in the morning,
Our song shall rise to thee,
Holy, Holy, Holy,
Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons,
blessed Trinity.
Holy, Holy, Holy,
All the saints adore thee
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the crystal sea,
Cherubim and Seraphim, falling down beside thee,
Who was and art and evermore shall be.
God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity.
I’m reminded of a story about how a church ran into a problem when the elders of the church decided that one man was shouting too much, and too loud in church.
They thought he might be disturbing some of the distinguished church members, the one that had the clot, and the ones that had the money in the church.
So the elders had called a meeting with the pastor and notified him that this shouter must be refrained. The pastor told them "I won't tell him to stop shouting, but I will go with you if you wish to tell him". So, they went to visit this man at his house who owned a lot of land.
As they drove down the dusty road to his house, they found him sitting on the porch with his hands lifted up praising God.
One elder spoke for all of the others, stating how they had
voted to ask him to hold the shouting down when in the worship service because of the potential problem it would cause.
The old men said look over there, you see that hole in the ground? They said yes, he said that hole drops about 20 feet and one day I fell in that hole and God sent someone by unexpectedly and they rescued me.
He said you see that raggedly torn up car over up against that tree? They said yes, he said, one day I was tired from work after pulling a double shift and ran into that tree and didn’t have a scratch on me. About this time two of the elder were crying.
But then he said you see that burned of house over? They said yes, he said when that house caught a fire I was sleep in that house and God woke me up just in a nick of time to save my life, and who wouldn’t praise a God like that.
Before he could finish the story everybody was shouting and crying, praising, and worshiping God.
And after all God has done for you, we need to know when it’s time to shout. Someone might ask the question, when should I shout? You should shout every chance you get.
