A. INTRODUCTION: NEHEMIAH 8:1-12
1. The seventh month in the calendar had two special religious days.
a. The Day of Atonement.
b. The Feast of Tabernacles (also called booths or tents).
2. The Day of Atonement. Fasting. “On the tenth day of the seventh month of each year you must go without eating to show sorrow for your sins” (Lev. 16:29, CEV).
a. The blood of a lamb for a man – Adam
b. The blood of a lamb for a family – Passover
c. The blood of a lamb for a nation – Day of Atonement
d. The blood of a Lamb for the world – John 1:29
3. The Day of Atonement: reminded them of past judgment and the future millennium.
B. HOW TO BEST LISTEN, LEARN AND LIVE THE BIBLE
1. There must be an assembly. If you don’t assemble with Christ’s body on earth, are you a member of Christ’s heavenly assembly?
2. They anticipated God speaking to them. “The people gathered with expectancy” (Neh. 8:1, ELT).
3. They asked for God’s Word. “The people gathered . . . and asked Ezra . . . to bring the book” (8:1, ELT).
4. They wanted to know what God had to say. “Which God had commanded Israel” (8:1)?
5. The Word of God must be brought before the people. “Ezra brought the law before the people” (8:2). God loves symbols.
6. Everyone must be taught and learn the Word of God. “Consisted of men, women, and the children old enough to understand” (8:2).
7. God blesses lengthy reading and teaching the scriptures. “From early morning till noon” (8:3).
8. When scriptures are read the people have an obligation to focus on it. “The people listened attentively” (8:3).
9. Usually the teacher stood before the people. “Ezra stood on a wooden platform” (8:4).
? Jesus sat on the mountain.
? David sat in the Tabernacle.
10. The people faced on the one teaching the Word. “Where all the people could see him” (8:5).
11. The people reverenced the Word of God. “When he opened it, all the people rose to their feet” (8:5).
12. Before Bible study, the people worshipped God. “Ezra worshipped God for His greatness” (8:6). An open heart to God opens the mind to His message in scripture.
13. There is a heartfelt verbal response to God. “Amen, Amen” (8:6). The word Amen means so be it.
14. The complete physical response to God is praise. “They lifted up their hands, bowed their heads, and fell prostrate before God with their faces to the ground” (8:6).
15. The pastoral staff sat on the platform in support of the message. “So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, (and) Meshullam” (8:4).
16. There was more than one person teaching scripture. “Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place” (8:7, KJV).
17. The Word of God must be read so people can understand it. “They read clearly in the Law” (8:8). Clearly meant pronunciate and enunciate.
18. The Word must be communicated in the language of the people. “Gave the sense” (8:8), meant translate. Many Jews could not understand the Hebrew in which Moses wrote. They read it first in Hebrew, then in their language.
Living Bible – paraphrased
New International Version – dynamic equivalence
King James – anointed to be read in churches
New American Standard Version - actual word for word
19. The meaning of scripture must be explained. “Enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read” (8:8).
The Golden Rule of Interpretation
“If the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense,
but take each word at its face value.” - Cooper
20. The interpretation is what God meant for us to know. “Enabled them to understand” (8:8). The Laws of Interpretations:
a. Interpret in light of its historical background.
b. Interpret in light of the author’s plan and purpose.
c. Interpret in light of the context of the passage.
d. Interpret in light of the author’s meaning of words.
e. Interpret according to grammar.
21. Application: people get little from the Bible if they don’t know what it means to them personally. “Don’t be mournful, don’t weep . . . for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (8:9-10).
a. One interpretation, many applications.
b. Applications must grow out of interpretation.
Applications of scripture are many
There is only one interpretation.
Applications change from person to person,
But interpretation remains the same.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
To email Dr. Towns - eltowns@liberty.edu.
