Intro:

As we reach chapter eight of Nehemiah, there are several notable shifts that I want to mention to you this morning, before we read our passage…

For the first 7 chapters, Nehemiah recounts the recorded events in the first person… meaning, he used phrases such as “I did this” or “we did that”…

But here in chapter 8 there is a shift… Nehemiah is now mentioned by name, or is described in the 3rd person… This suggests and many scholars believe that someone else may have written this section of the book.

Another notable shift that we are going to see, is the fact that Nehemiah starts to become a behind the scenes guy… Again, in the first 7 chapters he was front and center, but here in chapter 8, he steps into the background, allowing another leader to take charge of the spiritual awakening of Israel.

As I mentioned 2 weeks ago, chapter 7 was a transitional chapter - a bridge between the physical restoration of Jerusalem’s walls and the spiritual restoration of the Nation of Israel.

Nehemiah was a skilled leader and planner, chosen by God to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. However, he understood that he was not the right person to lead a national spiritual revival… Instead, that responsibility fell to Ezra, who, as we will see from vv. 1&2, was a scribe, a teacher and a Priest.

Ezra had been sent to Jerusalem by King Artaxerxes around 458 B.C. to teach the Law of Moses and ensure that the returning exiles were worshipping properly in their newly rebuilt temple.

Ezra had a deep passion for Israel’s spiritual renewal. However, despite his efforts, the people remained spiritually fruitless for about 14 years.

Before we even get into our passage this morning, let me say this… If you are ever feeling discouraged because you’ve been praying for someone for years, you’ve been trying to lead by example for years and yet this person doesn’t seem to respond… read the book of Ezra… and remember… Spiritual fruit in ministry may be challenging and take time to see… but as we’ve been talking about in our Sunday evening service… Our responsibility is to sow the seed and God, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, is the One brings about the conviction of sin.

Let me encourage you with the words of the Apostle Paul from…

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Many parents pour their hearts into raising their children in a godly home, teaching them biblical values, involving them in church from a young age, and ensuring they receive a Christian education. They plant seeds of faith, hoping to nurture a deep and lasting relationship with God.

Yet, as these children grow and step into adulthood, they are faced with choices that test their upbringing. Some may remain steadfast in their faith, while others may be drawn to the wide and tempting path of the world, straying from the narrow way of God. This can be deeply discouraging for parents who have labored in love and prayer over their children.

But Paul says 'Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not lose heart (don’t give up).

Though the journey may be painful and uncertain, parents must remain steadfast in faith, trusting that God is still at work in their children’s lives. His timing is perfect, and the seeds sown in faith may yet produce a harvest of righteousness in the future.

500 years before Paul was ever born, Ezra knew this truth… The Jews had been exiled to Babylon, where they lived for almost 150 years without proper teaching from the Law of Moses. Many generations grew up with little or no knowledge of God’s Word.

Over time, the Jews adopted the language of their captors (which was likely Aramaic), making it difficult for them to understand the Hebrew Scriptures. This created a spiritual disconnect between the Nation and God's teachings.

As we get into Nehemiah 8 this morning, I want you to know that godly leadership is not about charisma or strategy—it’s about… pointing people to God’s truth…

it’s about…

Leading with God’s Word

(Read 8:1-8)

Meat:

As we make our way through this chapter, we will answer the question…

Why should we lead with Scripture?

Aside from the obvious answers…

It is God Breathed - this is God’s spoken Word to us… which should be reason enough…

It is also “Living and active” - meaning that it is just as applicable to us today as it was to those who read it for the first time thousands of years ago…

These are just a couple of the obvious answers… but from our passage we can find several more answers…

Why should we lead with Scripture???? Because…

1. It Brings People Together

Don’t believe me… look around… you came here today, knowing that you would be taught from Scripture…

Look at v.1…

Nehemiah 8:1 “Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate...”

The square served as a central meeting place for community gatherings, where a very large crowd could assemble.

The reason that it brings people together is because…

1.1 They Crave the Truth

Now, in today’s world, it may not always seem like people are seeking truth… but the reality is, they are. Listen to the words of Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

The wisest man to ever live tells us that God works according to His perfect timing, and while we may not fully grasp His plan now, He has placed eternity in our hearts—a deep longing for something beyond this world.

Because of this, we continue to seek… we continue to crave truth, to understand the purpose behind it all. But the unfortunate reality is that Satan, knowing this God-given desire within us, seeks to satisfy it with lies and deception. And tragically, he succeeds in leading many astray.

The Nation of Israel is gathered together and they were craving the truth of God’s Word…

Nehemiah 8:1–2 “… and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.”

There is some significance here with the mention of the 7th month… but we don’t have time to get into it today… I will say this… The first day of the 7th month was the Jewish equivalent of our New Year’s Day… a perfect time for the nation to get right with the Lord and make a fresh new beginning.

They told Ezra “bring out God’s Word and read it to us…”

They have been in captivity for so long, all they knew were the pagan traditions… the pagan sacrifices… the pagan feasts… the pagan gods… but now, they want to know the truth, the true way to honor the one, True God.

So what does Ezra do… he sees the need, he fills the need… The Nation was gathered, craving God’s Word… so he feeds them…

1.2 They Were Fed

Look at v.3…

Nehemiah 8:3 “Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

There is a very important fact that I don’t want you to miss… you may even want to highlight or underline it in your bible…

“Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday...”

The word translated as morning, literally means “first light”… from dawn until lunch time… they were being fed the truths of God’s word… and guess what… none of them looked at the sun dial and thought… is this guy ever gonna quit??…

v.3 goes on to say… that Ezra read it “… before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”

Roughly 6 hours of teaching and they all remained attentive… … In some churches today, people start getting antsy if Pastor goes past 30 minutes… some churches…

As godly leaders we must be willing to invest time in teaching, guiding, and shepherding others—trusting that when truth is presented, hearts will be drawn together in pursuit of God’s truth.

Secondly, Why should we lead with Scripture???? Because…

2. It Must be Proclaimed

God did not give us His Word to keep hidden, but to be proclaimed, shared, and lived out. It is a light meant to shine in the darkness, guiding hearts to truth and transforming lives.

Just as Ezra publicly read the Law to the people, we are called to boldly teach, preach, and apply Scripture so that others may know God, walk in His ways, and experience the fullness of His truth.

It is obvious from these first few verses that Scripture is…

2.1 Not a Private Message

It wasn’t just for people who showed up at the temple on the Sabbath and it wasn’t just for the Jewish people…

This reading… this proclamation took place in the open square… a public place. It would’ve been heard by the Israelites and people who were in the city from the surrounding areas.

 The Bible isn’t a message for just a privileged few. The Bible is God’s Word for everyone… God intends it for all people. He intends it to be preached to all men and all women and even all children who can understand.

A picture of that in this passage is how Ezra proclaimed God’s Word. Notice how he did it in v.4…

Nehemiah 8:4 “So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose...”

He stood on a platform so that everyone could see and hear him, emphasizing that God’s Word is for all people. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, how you smell, or how you behave—God’s truth is for everyone. Our responsibility is to proclaim it boldly, making it known to all, because the message we share is not meant to be kept private.

Also… it must be proclaimed…

2.2 With Honor

v.4 goes on to say…

Nehemiah 8:4 “...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.”

7 men on each side… most likely men he has been training for priesthood and/or temple work…

v.5…

Nehemiah 8:5 “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people…”

Ezra was on a raised platform, probably some what similar to the stage that I am currently standing on… and I believe the reasoning is two fold…

Ezra’s elevated position served a practical purpose—ensuring that everyone in the massive crowd could both see and hear him clearly… it was not about exalting Ezra himself, but rather about making sure the Word of God was accessible to every listener.

And then… I believe that Ezra’s elevated position also served as a symbolic purpose — Again, this moment was not about Ezra as a person—it was about exalting the Scriptures as the ultimate source of truth and honoring the Word of God by placing it in a position that was higher than everyone else.

Both of these principles are still relevant today - The public reading and preaching of Scripture—whether from a pulpit, a stage, or any gathering place—is meant to unite people around God’s truth, ensuring that His Word is heard and honored.

Just as Ezra did not preach his own ideas but simply read and explained the Law, as godly leaders we are called to faithfully proclaim God’s truth above all else so that it may be used to transform hearts and lives.

Next… Why should we lead with Scripture???? Because…

3. It Produces Reverence

When we, as godly leaders, treat God’s Word with honor and respect, then those we lead will follow suit…

Again, v.5…

Nehemiah 8:5 “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.”

When I ask you to stand as I read our main passage each week… this is why… It shows a reverence for God’s Word… It shows our visitors that we take God’s Word seriously…

Just like we stand out of respect for the national anthem or the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance… Just like we stand to honor a bride as she walks down the aisle… We stand for the reading and reception of God’s Word.

Again, worth noting… this crowd stood for hours… just sayin’…

I cannot stress this next point enough…

3.1 Leaders set the Tone

Ezra had 14 men standing with him and as soon as he opened God’s Word to read… “all the people stood up”… implying that were previously sitting down…

v.6 shows what happens next…

Nehemiah 8:6 “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

Do you remember how they were suppose to worship in Babylon??… Our study in Daniel gave us a glimpse… King N gave orders on how to worship his golden image…

Daniel 3:5 NKJV

5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up;

They were to fall down and prostrate themselves before this idol… … but here it says…

Nehemiah 8:6 NKJV

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

How did they know to do that?… My sanctified imagination says… they followed the tone of their leaders…

As godly leaders, we need to set the right tone and example for others to follow…

And lastly this morning…

Why should we lead with Scripture???? Because…

4. It Needs to be Understood

Nehemiah 8:7–8 “7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.”

God did not give us His Word for it to sit on a shelf, collecting dust, and never be studied. Instead, as seen here, some men and the Levites helped the people understand the Law, reading it clearly and explaining its meaning so that they could apply it to their lives.

God’s word is not just a book of history or rules—it is the living truth that transforms hearts and minds… as godly leaders, we are called to dive into Scripture, seek understanding, and apply its wisdom to our daily lives.

And then, we are to take what we have learned and help others to understand it as well… … why???.… Because…

4.1 It Affects Eternity

God’s Word is what confirms all have sinned…

God’s Word is what tells us that the punishment for that sin is death (eternal separation from God).

God’s Word is what tells us that Jesus has already taken our punishment

God’s Word is what tells us that salvation is a free gift, not something we can earn through our own efforts.

God’s Word is what tells us that if we repent of our sins, confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.

God’s Word is what tells us that through Jesus’ death, burial and Resurrection, we are reconciled to God and given eternal life.

God’s Word is what tells us that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

God’s Word is what tells us that in Christ, we are made new, forgiven, and no longer condemned.

If we do not understand what God’s Word says about sin, salvation, and the promise of eternal life, we risk missing the very message that determines where we will spend eternity.

Just as in Nehemiah’s day, when the people were taught so they could understand, we must seek to know Scripture fully—because what we do with God’s truth today will impact our eternity.

As godly leaders, we need to be sharing our understanding of the gospel with those who don’t understand…

The Apostle Paul says it this way in…

Romans 10:14 NASB95

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

Closing:

Leading with God’s Word is essential because it brings people together, it must be proclaimed, it produces reverence, and it needs to be understood.

Lord willing, next week, we will see a few more reasons why we should be leading with God’s Word… but we can see already, that the people of Israel responded to God’s Word with unity, reverence, and obedience.

They stood, listened attentively, and allowed it to transform them… Today, we are called to do the same. God’s Word must be central in our lives, our leadership, and our witness.

So I ask you this…

Are you leading with God’s Word in your own life?

Are you prioritizing it in your home, your workplace, and your community?

Are you proclaiming it boldly and helping others understand its life-changing truth?

May we be a congregation that not only hears God’s Word… but a congregation who lives it, proclaims it, and leads with it—because it is the very foundation of truth… the very foundation of our salvation… and the very foundation of our eternity.

Prayer: