A Mind To Build

Physical Building

walls completed 25th day of the 6th month (6:15)

second half of book starts (8:2) 1st day of the 7th month

Building the Jerusalem physically to building Jerusalem spiritually

Spiritual Building

Proclamation of the Word (8-10)

all the people gathered as one man (8:1)

The people asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of law (they had an appetite for the Word Matt. 5:6 ““Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” 1 Pet. 2:2 “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding (8:2)

He read it from morning to midday (8:3) Do we have a longing for God’s Word. There is nothing sweeter than hearing God’s Word. Ps. 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.”

They stood up for the reading (8:5)

Blessed the Lord the great God and all the people answered saying AMEN AMEN!!! (8:6)

lifted up their hands then bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (you are greater we are lesser)

men explained the law to the people (8:7)

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 8–13

Verse 8 describes a perfect church gathering: the people all assembled to listen; the Word was exalted; the preacher read and explained the Word so that people could understand it. The people wept at hearing the Word, overcome, no doubt, with grief for their sins. But this was to be a day of rejoicing. They would weep on the Day of Atonement! Ezra commanded them to feast and rejoice; see Ecc. 3:4.

what could they have read that penetrated the hearts so deeply (Deut. 28ff)?

v. 10 share with him who has nothing prepared

Eccl. 3 a time for everything

v. 13 men and fathers gather to gain insight into the law of the Lord

v. 15 circulated word about proclamation of the feast of booths (tabernacles)

v. 16-17 made booths and lived in them

v.17 rejoiced because they were obedient to the Lord

Nehemiah 8:18 NASB95

He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.