Bible Study - Build (2) - Hear GOD'S Word - Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-12 - October 23, 2022

 

Bible Study – Build (2) - Hear GOD’S Word – October 23, 2022

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled, “How to Build Your Life on GOD’S Word.”

Our focus scripture is Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-12

Seize opportunities to hear GOD’S Word proclaimed.

It is amazing how GOD leads HIS chosen to truth. The Jews had settled into worshipping GOD in Jerusalem. In 586 BC, GOD allowed the Babylonians to capture Jerusalem and take the Jews captive to Babylon.

The Jews discovered that GOD was in Babylon, which was an eye opener. This relocation of the Jews established a new worship dynamic for the Jews and led the Jewish religious leaders to establish Synagogues in other places. In 539 BC Babylon fell to the Persians. Persia’s King Cyrus issued a decree in 538 BC that captives should return to their homelands.

The rebuilding of the temple began immediately but it was a daunting task and work ceased after the foundation was completed. Haggai and Zerubbabel urged the Jews to complete the temple and it was completed in 516 BC.

In Nehemiah 1:2-11: (Background – The Temple in Jerusalem was incomplete. This information came to Nehemiah who was the cup barrier for King Cyrus.)

² Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived with men from Judah, and I questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile. ³ They said to me, “The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned.”

Nehemiah’s Prayer

⁴ When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of the heavens. ⁵ I said,

Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands, ⁶ let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins^[a] we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. ⁷ We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses. ⁸ Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. ⁹ But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon,^[b] I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.” ¹⁰ They are your servants and your people. You redeemed them by your great power and strong hand. ¹¹ Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to that of your servants who delight to revere your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him compassion in the presence of this man.^[c]

At the time, I was the king’s cupbearer.

Notice that Nehemiah confessed his sins and the sins of his family in verse 6.

Is your heart broken by the things that break the heart of GOD? When Nehemiah heard the plight of those in Jerusalem and the condition of Jerusalem and the temple, Nehemiah’s heart was broken. He immediately took his request to GOD and asked GOD to help him.

This is so precious. Do we have the heart to help others? If so, what are we going to do about what has come to our attention that is bigger than we are? Nehemiah went to GOD!!!

JESUS told HIS disciples that it only takes a small amount of faith to accomplish GOD sized things.

In Nehemiah Chapter 2, we learn that Nehemiah returned to his duty as the king’s wine steward. When he returned to serve the king, he was sad. The king asked him, why he was so sad. Nehemiah told the king and the king wanted to know how he could help him.

We read in Nehemiah 2:4-6:

⁴ Then the king asked me, “What is your request?”

So, I prayed to the God of the heavens ⁵ and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, send me to Judah and to the city where my ancestors are buried,^[b] so that I may rebuild it.”

⁶ The king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So, I gave him a definite time, and it pleased the king to send me.

WOW!!! Isn’t GOD amazing!

Once Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, he surveyed Jerusalem at night to determine what needed to be done. Was Nehemiah prayer walking? Step one, determine what needs to be done. Nehemiah walked the perimeter at night several times with trusted fellow Jews.

We read in Nehemiah 2 - ¹⁷ So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned. Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” ¹⁸ I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me, and what the king had said to me.

They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and their hands were strengthened^[f] to do this good work.

Teamwork gets the job done, especially, when GOD heads your team. Notice, once they made the decision to rebuild “their hands were strengthened to do this good work.” Procrastination defeats and is a tool of Satan.

When the temple had been completed something seemed to be missing. Worship in the new temple lacked fervor until Ezra, a priest and a scribe arrived in Jerusalem, 458 BC. Ezra was qualified to read the scripture to the people. This would be the first five books of the Bible. Ezra was a descendant of Aaron and qualified to read and expound upon the scripture. Nehemiah was governor.

Reading scripture is like drinking from a fresh spring of cool clear water on a very hot day. The Holy Spirit is the internal spring of life-giving water that quenches the Spiritual thirst of all Spirit-born people.

The people had worked hard and saw the benefit of their labor. They recognized that GOD was with them as they restored Jerusalem. So, “all the people gathered at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel.”

The people recognized that GOD had been with them in the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The wall around Jerusalem took Nehemiah and the Israelites 52 days to complete the wall. Once completed, what else was there for them to do? Let’s explore more!

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:1-3:

8 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. ² On the first day of the seventh month, the priest Ezra 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^[a] to the book of the law. 

They selected an area that would accommodate the people in the area called the Water Gate which was located on the east wall. GOD chose that location. Why? JESUS will return to earth from the east at HIS second coming. We read in Matthew 24:27:
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Notice the unity of the people, “all the people gathered and asked Ezra –”

This was “on the first day of the seventh month” The time period coincides with our September and a time period that includes major events for the Jews e.g., beginning of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana), the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Feast of the Booths (Sukkot).

In Deuteronomy 31:10-11, we read, “¹⁰ Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of debt cancellation, during the Festival of Shelters, ¹¹ when all Israel assembles in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he chooses, you are to read this law aloud before all Israel.”

The LORD chose where they assembled. Does the LORD choose where we assemble to hear GOD’S Word proclaimed? Are we hearing the truth in the power of the Holy Spirit? Is what we hear being explained to us?

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,^[b] explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. ⁸ They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 

As we read on, we learn in verse 7 that Levites were strategically placed among the assembly to read and explain the law to the people. Wow! Organization is vital. “They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.” The Levites could minister to the people.

They took this time together seriously and wanted those assembled to understand, comprehend and apply what was being read to them.

There are times when we need to pause and digest what we read or hear. Should, we as deacons, be strategically placed among the congregation to respond to what is being preached? Or if we have Bible study following worship, should we take a few minutes to review and discuss the pastor’s message to make sure we comprehend and put the message into practice?

Let’s read Nehemiah 8:9-12:

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. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”^[c] 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.” ¹² Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.

WOW! “The joy of the LORD is our strength.” Where does joy come from? It comes from knowing JESUS as our Savior, making HIM the LORD of our lives, obediently serving HIM, witnessing HIS work through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. As we serve, we see HIS handiwork evidenced in both our lives and in the lives of others.

The Israelites had encountered the presence of GOD and they realized what they had been missing and wept tears of joy and mourned. Then those who had ministered to them told them, “Be still, since today is holy. Don’t grieve.”  Share your joy with each other and with others, especially those who are less fortunate than you.

Isn’t it wonderful when our leaders know JESUS and practice what is written in GOD’S Word. Isn’t it wonderful when we have a pastor that preaches GOD’S Word in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit!

Pray for all who are entrusted with GOD’S Word to preach, teach and live according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. People who know the truth are desperate to hear the truth and to apply it as they live each day. There are many who are seeking truth and we who know truth are to share it as given the opportunity. The world is GOD’S vineyard and GOD has equipped us to work in HIS vineyard. We must not hide the light of salvation, through faith in JESUS, from those seeking truth. Blessings!!!