The Beginnings of Revival

Introduction:

As we continue to look at the interlude between Chapter 8 and 11 of Nehemiah, we see the beginnings of a great revival break out. A few weeks ago we focused on the importance of the people reading the Word of God, Understanding the Word of God, and Repenting at the preaching of the Word of God.

Tonight, we are going to continue with this theme and see once again how important God’s Word is to Revival in the church and in our lives.

Nehemiah 8:13–18 ESV

13 On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

Pray

If you remember a few weeks ago we noted that we were entering into the Fall and a particularly religious month on the calendar.

There were several holidays spread throughout the Jewish calendar to remind them of God and particularly that have been associated with parts of our redemption like Passover, Resurrection Sunday, and Pentecost.

Well, we are still in the 7th month and as the people continued to gather and read the Bible, they discovered that there was a festival that they needed to celebrate.

There are three major things we see in this passage and for those who have trouble remembering, there are really only two that repeat over and over again.

They Gather to Study

They Obey

They Rinse and Repeat

1. They Gathered to Study the Word (v.13)

Nehemiah 8:13 ESV

13 On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.

2. They Obeyed What They Read (v.14-17)

Nehemiah 8:14–17 ESV

14 And they found it written in the Law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16 So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.

3. They Repeated This Practice (v.18)

Nehemiah 8:18 ESV

18 And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.