Understanding God's Word (Neh 8)

The Impact of Understanding God’s Word: Nehemiah 8 I’m really stoked about this chapter. I mean, after chapter 7, how could I NOT be, right? (read vv. 66-69) No really, we’re a bible-centered people, and this is a bible-centered text for the ages (literally, ages – thousands and thousands of years). Read Nehemiah 8 and Pray: I. Now we come to ch. 8, which references understanding 6 times. How important is understanding?  (embarasada; following instructions from an item received in the mail – this was ‘supposed’ to be a chair; even memorizing Scripture, hiding God’s word in your heart – does it matter if you understand it? Well, yeah.) A. Does understanding mean you have to know everything there is to know about a subject in order to act on it? Well, no. We’re not going to figure out everything there is to know about the Israelite Feast of Booths today, but that’s not going to prevent us from getting the sense of it in order to apply the truth in it. B. READ (vv. 1-8) C. The power of God’s Word is unleashed with clear understanding and application of it. 1. We must read and listen wholeheartedly to God’s Word to understand it. (vv. 1-6) 2. We must teach it clearly to improve understanding. (vv. 7-8) 3. Right understanding is evidenced when we are moved by God’s Word to apply it. (vv. 9-11 & 13-18) II. We must read and listen wholeheartedly to God’s Word to understand it. A. Before I launch headlong into vv.1-6, let’s practice what we preach about understanding God’s word in context. (local context and broad context – in the book and in the Bible) 1. We’ve entered into the second half of the book of Nehemiah after the process of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. Now before they get to dedicating the walls (10-12), they must first re-dedicate themselves to the Lord. (which will require instruction and confession, chapters 8 and 9) 2. And to keep us connected to the big picture that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion, I’ll remind us of one key theme from last week. (The importance of worship in God’s purposes.) – Revelation is God's expression of himself to us. Worship is how we express our trusting admiration in relationship to God. It is not a place and it is not primarily an activity; it is an ongoing relational response. Today we see that God's people must prioritize God's Word to remain relationally close to God. 3. That means we need a clear understanding of God revealing himself to us in the Scriptures. What happens in us and through us is a product of our response to God's truth clearly understood. B. So it’s a really big deal when in v. 1 these various Jews from their miscellaneous towns, some recently arriving back from exile, now united by the project that God had put in Neh’s heart to rebuild the wall… come together as one man (that’s a cool description of unity; that’s my heart for us, gathered as one man) to read the Book of the Law. (This is either Deut. or more likely all of the first five books, the Torah, the Pentateuch. But he probably couldn’t have finished them all in one morning, even a long morning.) C. And although it’s almost a bit surprising to me that Ezra isn’t mentioned anywhere until now, it’s perfect that Ezra comes on the scene again here because Nehemiah knows that Ezra the scribe and priest is better suited for this teaching task than Neh the courageous leader. (Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.”) – Although in some ways and at certain times we all have responsibilities to lead and to teach, we’re not all gifted the same way. And that’s perfectly fine. That’s why we’re a team. D. But let’s turn our attention again from Ezra to the assembly of all those who could hear the reading of God’s word and understand it. There you are, the first mention of the importance of understanding. Since in His sovereignty God chose to provide us with his Word in written form by the superintendence of the Holy Spirit through human authors, we must read it. 1. Who knows how long the reading of the Law had been neglected, but they revived it now. And the power of God’s word would revive the people. – Copies of the Torah wouldn’t have been available like water, with everyone carrying his scroll to class under his arm. And until recent centuries with the widespread availability of God’s Word to all who can read it, and often in our own heart language, copies of the Bible would have been extremely hard to come by. 2. But there are still places in the world where that isn’t the case. And not just that some don’t have any Bible in their language at all, but that there are among those groups and others no or not many self-propogating churches, teams of saints working together like a body to multiply and mature disciples of Jesus. So in this context, and emphasizing clarity and understanding, why am I going to Indonesia? – Well, it’s not me itching for an adventure (3 girls, plenty of adventure), nor am I looking for a new post. [I’m not dying for the church (and me) to invest the extra travel cost, nor to leave my girls for 10 days, nor for me to get 4 vaccination stabs, nor to spend 22:45 on a plane each way, not counting layovers.] But the fact is that Indonesia is one such place where people groups need the Bible to read, and we need to make disciples into local churches, teams of disciples. So over there, literally half way across the world, they need teaching and training so that they can teach and lead. Thus the importance of planting local churches. I want you to be passionate about it, and who’s going to help you get passionate about it? (Who knows, maybe some day we’ll get to participate in sending someone from our church over there. Maybe even 5 or so years from now we’ll be heading up an ENTIRE team to plant a church there or somewhere else. But at the very least, I promise you, remembering the mission of the global church reminds us of our mission at home.) 3. Unlike those people groups, you have many translations in English. Are you thankful for the ability to read, and to read God’s word for yourself in your own language? (We can prove our gratitude by reading it and obeying it.) E. What goes along with reading with our eyes or hearing with our ears? Actually listening with our hearts. 1. So we’ve got all these people gathered inside or outside the water gate [map], and Ezra (and others) up on a platform so the people can see and hear. But you know what else we can tell? They were attentive and reverent (v. 3, then v. 5-6). All morning! 2. Do you behave like you believe this Bible, revealing God, has the power to manifest God himself and to save you by belief in Christ and to change you by the Spirit of God? [That leads us into some relevant points in the next couple sections. The power of God’s Word and the role of the Holy Spirit…] III. We must teach it clearly to improve understanding. A. Good teaching explains the content clearly (and accurately) and applies it practically. It is such understanding that gives the Bible its power. – vv. 7-8, again, understanding is central. The Levites helped with the understanding of the reading by making sure that people were getting the sense of it. I picture them splitting up and working with manageable groups of people. (Then Ezra, “Ok. Next section.”) – The need is due in part to the changing of language over time or even language barriers if some of them had grown up speaking another language than Hebrew in exile, but also because there were those well-versed and well-studied who could help. B. So do you think these Levites were like, “God’s Law is right and true, but let me add to you some of my own words of wisdom.” Or “Let me coach you how to find the power in your words.” – Nope. That was as much nonsense back then as it is today. Your words don’t hold the authority of God’s words. God’s words have the power to change people. Your words have the power to help or hurt, sure, but not to transform people or stop the sun or calm a raging storm. [I work hard on polished preaching, but simply to be a good manager of the gifting and opportunity, not because my words are special. God’s word is what I aim to preach because God’s word will change you. And yep, you need changing.] C. Where does the Holy Spirit come into all of this? [We dare not ignore the important role of the Holy Spirit. But not all Christians agree about how the indwelling Spirit works in his people. Does the H.S. ‘primarily’ give guidance through a still, small voice or through His Word? Does He gift believers ‘primarily’ to make a big splash or to serve the body and teach the Word?] 1. The Holy Spirit guides our understanding of the Word. (See John 16, then into 17 concerning the work of the Spirit) – But don’t blame him for any new revelations you have. He doesn’t want to claim those. But God the Holy Spirit is happy to take credit for the revealed word and opening the understanding of your mind and the application to your heart. Again, let me ask you this simple question. How do you know if something is from the Holy Spirit or from some other spirit or your own invention? (Seeking His guidance in His word… this is spiritual discernment) 2. Now we also need spiritual discernment and sensitivity to God’s leading in our hearts when we’re uncertain that there is a clear scriptural mandate or even overarching principle to apply to a given situation. Perhaps what is often needed is understanding & applying the RIGHT principle. Take the current political dilemma as an example. – Getting political is sure to step on some toes, so I’ll make this fair and be sure to catch everyone’s toes. I’m only 35, but this election is the most polarizing that I can remember. I think the American people are more likely to vote against a candidate than they are to actually vote FOR the other.  But the biggest problem that I see is the divisiveness in the Christian community. Do you honestly believe that you have such solid moral grounds on how you are choosing to vote that you should bludgeon other Christians into voting your way? Some are gonna vote Trump b/c he’s on the republican ticket and you know, there’s that Supreme Court justice issue. Some are gonna actually vote Hillary b/c they say she’s an enemy we know and understand. Some are gonna vote for another alternative to make a statement that democracy matters. Others won’t vote at all. Here’s my point, why doesn’t Christian charity and unity and mutual respect trump (pun intended) your insistence on your opinion? If this is what it takes, it may be time for a news and facebook fast. Seriously, read your Bible and listen to leaders you trust and follow your conscience. But be gracious enough to remember that your conscience isn’t my conscience. – Most importantly, do you trust the sovereign choosing of God to elect and depose rulers, to strengthen or demolish kingdoms? Christians need to be the moral voice in our political system and in our nation, but let’s not lose our identity as God’s people in the process. IV. Right understanding is evidenced when we are moved by God’s Word to apply it. (RD vv. 9-18) A. They wept because they understood. They rejoiced b/c they understood. Repentance and rejoicing are both right responses to the piercing truth of God’s Word. (vv. 9-12) 1. The people were driven to weeping by the realization of their lack of obedience to God’s law. 2. But the leaders determined that this holy day should be marked with joy. How did the people switch to rejoicing? “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” – The same book that tells you how short you fall of God’s glory also tells you of his merciful and gracious lovingkindness lavished on you.  If you’re laughing when you should be in mournful repentance, the Bible has something to say about that. (James 4:9) But when you rightly understand God’s word and it causes you to repent, then the Bible’s call is to rejoice in the Lord. I will say it again, rejoice. (Php. 4:4) B. They weren’t simply emotionally moved by understanding God’s Word, but they were stirred to actively obey it. (vv. 13-18) 1. So when those responsible with teaching (priests, levites, house or clan leaders) got back together to study God’s Word, they noticed something they were supposed to be doing. But instead of moping that they had already missed observing the day of atonement (or maybe some had, but not this whole group apparently), they picked up with the festival of booths (Feast of Tabernacles), celebrating God’s forgiveness, following sin being atoned for. The way they practiced it reminded them of their days coming up out of Egypt when they had to live in temporary dwellings. 2. What’s up anyways with God instructing Israel to observe festivals and whatnot? – They were remembrances of His faithfulness and favor. That’s what I love about Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter observed with an acutely Christian focus – remembering God’s favor. And doing so in community with God’s people.  This time they celebrated the feast of booths with such joy that the author describes it like none other since the time of Joshua, when the festival began. 3. And v. 18 says they read from the book of the law every day for seven days until the 8th day when the assembly again became solemn. (which leads nicely into the confession of ch. 9 that follows this revitalized instruction) C. What about you? Are you ready to let God renew your commitment to read His word with a listening, teachable heart? Are you committed to a responsive heart when taught? And willing to participate in teaching God’s Word with clarity and applicability? And when you understand God’s word, will you be moved to respond with obedience of faith?