Bible Study – Awake (4) – Return to GOD’S Word – August 9, 2015

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Awake: The Call to a Renewed Life.”

Our focus scripture is Nehemiah 8:1-8.

GOD’S Word is the fuel for a consistent Godly lifestyle.

In 458 B.C. Ezra led the second group to Jerusalem. The temple had been rebuilt but the walls and gates were broken. In 444 B.C., Nehemiah led a group to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, which were completed in 445 B.C. (52 days).

In our study today, let’s fast forward to Nehemiah 8:9:

9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, "This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.

We see that Nehemiah was the governor and Ezra was the priest and scribe in Jerusalem. A scribe’s job was to copy and preserve the scripture’s, they were experts in the law and teachers of the law. Thus GOD called Ezra to be one of the first to lead the return to Jerusalem because any rebuilding must begin with Spiritual rebuilding followed by physical rebuilding.

The Levites were present to assist the priest, Ezra. It is estimated that about 50,000 Israelites were present and the Levites would assist in restating what Ezra was reading and/or helping the people to understand what was being said.

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:1-4:

Public Reading of the Law

1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra, the scribe, to bring the book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel.

2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding.

3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

The Israelites were hungry to hear GOD’S Word. How long has it been since you have been hungry to hear GOD’S Word? We have HIS Word all around us on our wireless smart phones, iPod’s and various printed and electronic media. The Bible is so readily available that we take it for granted. Will there come a day when America will hunger for GOD’S Word? When we do not read, study and apply GOD’S Word, we become Spiritually malnourished.

Sure GOD’S Word was written thousands of years ago, but the indwelling Holy Spirit takes what was written then and make it relevant today. GOD’S Word is eternal. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christian for the purpose of empowering, enlightening, teaching, imparting understanding, convicting, strengthening and the list goes on.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and repented and asked for HIM to come into your life? It is CHRIST in you that makes you a Christian. It is through the miracle of rebirth that makes you Sons or Daughters of GOD through faith in CHRIST. The Holy Spirit indwells you that instant you ask CHRIST to forgive you and for HIM to come into your heart. Salvation is just the beginning of being made into the image of CHRIST through the process of sanctification.

All the Israelites gathered at the Water Gate and asked Ezra, the scribe, to bring the book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel.

The Water Gate was located on the eastern wall of Jerusalem. The people asked Ezra to bring the book of the Law of Moses, “The Lord had given Israel.” The Bible reveals that all scripture comes from GOD. The Israelites were Spiritually hungry for GOD’S Word because they wanted to know and do GOD’S will. There is no better place to seek direction than from GOD’S Word as we study, pray, listen and take action.

The occasion was “the first day of the seventh month,” which was designated as the Feast of Trumpets. It was a day to blow the ram’s horn or shofar (trumpet), rest and offer a sacrifice.

The people stood when the scripture was read. That means they were standing from daybreak to noon. Keep this in mind. It was estimated that there could have been 50,000 people present. There was Ezra positioned on a high platform reading scripture and priests relaying the scripture being read and giving an interpretation to the people is a plausible explanation for the time element. Ezra was flanked by six (6) people on his right and seven (7) on his left. Total there were 14 people including Ezra. This gave balance of two perfect numbers of 7.

When you are interested in something, so intently, time flies. The scripture states that they “listened intently.” They could not get enough. They hung on every word and wanted to understand what was being said. Many of us have been to Bible conferences or in church services when we did not want it to end because we were being fed Spiritual food. It is so sad that so many Christians have lost the wonder and excitement of GOD’S Word. We must return to HIS Word and seek HIS guidance and apply it.

Ezra stood on a wooden platform. It was an elevated structure to help Ezra to be able to project his voice.

Some Bible scholars believe that these 13 men on the wooden platform with Ezra were community leaders but others believe they were priests. As we will read in verse 7 there were 13 Levites present who helped explain the law to the people.

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:5-6:

5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up.

6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, "Amen, Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Ezra opened the book of the Law in full view of all the people. He wanted the people to see that the words he was about to say were not his words but they were the words from GOD which came to Moses. GOD’S Word is powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword and it will not return void. Man’s word pleases the ear but without substance.

Scripture reveals that the people stood up for the reading of GOD’S Word. As Ezra opened the reading with blessings to the LORD, the people raised up their hands and said, “Amen, Amen!” Amen generally means “so be it.” The Hebrew word comes from a root meaning “to be stable, reliable, established.” (Page 105, Advanced Bible Commentary, LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0175.)

The people responded by bowing down and worshiping the LORD. Their faces were to the ground. This reveals their hearts toward the LORD. They were truly humbled and grateful to GOD for HIS mercy, forgiveness and awesomeness.

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:7-8:

7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places.

8 They read the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

WOW! What a day! Do we get excited when we hear or read GOD’S Word? Do we read and study it seeking understanding and direction? Have we lost the wonder of our relationship with GOD and what HIS desire is for us? GOD’S Word is HIS living Word. Blessings!!!