Rebuild: Keeping the Word Central

Notes:

Reverence for the Word

v. 1: United Congregation at Water Gate

Outdoors all together

No Watergate Scandal, but a Water Gate Worship Service!

Kilner: “Center of City Life” and not the temple courts. OUT THERE!

Position of Defiance against the Nations. Not only do we have the walls finished… No coincidence that the walls were just completed days earlier!

Here are our walls, but here is our ROCK!

v. 2: Delivery of the Book:

Ezra brings the Book on the 1st Day of the Seventh month: Known as New Year’s Day

Leviticus 23:24 “24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.”

v. 4: Book at Center Stage

Ezra stood on a wooden platform surrounded by leadership:

Men to Ezra’s right and left.

Flanked around the book.

Image of Drayton at Lord’s Supper

v. 5: Opening the Scroll

Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people.

People stood when Ezra read!

Get ready to hear it.

Psych yourself.

Get a good night’s sleep on a Saturday night.

Position of the Word

Time of the Word

Standing in worship.

Head bowed and saying amen!

Say “Amen!”

Don’t be afraid to embrace your inner Pentecostal!

Experience growing up…

Reflecting upon the Word

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Emphasis on understanding what is being read here…

Logistically, what did this look like?

Verse 3: “those who could understand”: Assuming understand the read Word

verse 8: “They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.”

13 would have roamed, perhaps?

Responding to the Word

Worship the Way the Word tells us!

My mom, “Pentecostal.”

Respond to the Word

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

Joy must overcome grief when confronted with our sin.

Joy in the LORD, what he has done to overcome our sin.

Response: Feast, celebrate, and share.

Don’t let guilt cloud your emotions!

The Word became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us:

Last year’s advent.

Nehemiah tells people what’s what.

What grieves you?

Went away with “great rejoicing because they understood the words”

REJOICE!