The People Are Ready (2)
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The People Are Ready
The People Are Ready
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
If we believe the chronological order of the book we understand that the Wall is built.
The enemy's of the God are temporary put in their place.
Ezra the priest and scribe is upfront and center.
What a change:
broken down wall
Jews taking advantage of each other in lending
Enslaving brethren
Quarrlels amoung themselves
The enemy's of God have control
Just accept it and that is the way it is ....
Go with the flow
Follow the crowd
Be like everybody else - don’t make waves
If you want to make a difference you must be different
Nehemiah
Organized an exposition from Babylon
Organized the building campain
Fougth off internal squabbling
Fought of the enemies outside Jerusalem
Now the people are ready for change!
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 cor 12.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word.
They are now open
I Gathered
I Gathered
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
neh 8
When Ezra first arrived in Jerusalem, the moral and spiritual condition of the people was deplorable (; , ).
When Ezra first arrived in Jerusalem, the moral and spiritual condition of the people was deplorable (; , ).
But as he prayerfully taught them God’s Word, they began to respond to and to obey the laws of God.
A few years later Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem and challenged them to trust God to help them rebuild the walls.
The effectiveness of Ezra’s ministry is also reflected in the people’s behavior after the walls were completed.
The two-month building program was an interlude in Ezra’s teaching, but apparently it helped motivate the people to want to know more of God’s Law. They themselves asked Ezra to continue his teaching ministry among them ().
This was the first day of the seventh month, the day which was to be the Feast of Trumpets (; ). Adults and children who were old enough to understand () listened attentively all morning as Ezra faced west by the Water Gate (cf. v. 1).[1]
They were prepared
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
matt 13.3-
look at vs 8 - they soil was prepared
the soil was tilled and broken - ready to recieve
hard soil and the stony soil if its convenient we will receive.
God allows circumstances in our lives to break up our soil
preaching at the Wilds
Circumstances in families
Health concerns
Sin hides your condition
You feel good about yourself and what God says is wrong.
You life up yourself
You make fun or poke at others - through sarcasm and ridicule
You justify what you do
Life is all about you .....
serving no
helping no
having fun yes
Gods word is just that words
Then you come to yourself and can’t get out ....
This is where the people of Nehemiah day were ...
They are gathered ......
The most damaging thing you can do for your children is to prevent God working in their lives by constantly intervening on their behalf.
II.Convicted
II.Convicted
neh 8.3-
3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Standing on a special platform and flanked by thirteen Levites, Ezra read from … the Law of Moses for several hours.
The people showed deep respect for God’s Word as the Levites, mentioned in verse 7, helped them to understand (v. 8) what was being read.
Since the Aramaic language replaced Hebrew after the captivity, it was necessary to explain many words of the Hebrew Scriptures
Standing and listening for 6 hours.
Six Levites were there to help them understand the language differences.
They were prepare by God and willing to do what ever it takes.....
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Amen - I agree
Lifting up hands - visible worship
The rabbis deduced from “the people all stood up” that the congregation should stand at the reading of the Torah. In Eastern Orthodox churches the congregation stands throughout the service.
On “the great God,” compare 9:32; ; ; . The Jews customarily “lifted their hands” in worship (cf. comment on ; cf. ; ; ).
The repetition “Amen! Amen!” connotes the intensity of feeling behind the affirmation (; ).
“Bowed down” (from qādad) occurs fifteen times in the OT (e.g., , ; ; ; et al.), always followed by the verb “to worship.” The KJV renders it “bowed their heads”; it may mean “kneel down.”
“Worshiped” Originally it meant to prostrate oneself on the ground as the frequently accompanying phrase ʾārṣāh (“to the ground”; e.g., in v.6) indicates.
This was a moving of God from the reading of His word!
When you are prepare to receive Go’d Word ...
You will worship and praise God ....
You will act our your Christian Life on Purpose! It will have greater meaning.
You will be yourself in Christ ....
You will discover your calling...
III Teachable
III Teachable
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
neh 8.
The 13 Levites not only helped with language difficulties they help interpret the scriptures.
vs 8 - gave sense and caused
When you are ready you ill listen and heed - the scriptures
You will heed the expository analysis from the pastor
You will not have a DIY approach to church - train wreck
You will ask and seek counsel
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Are you ready to recieve God’s Word?
Gathered - attendance/reading/prayer
Gathered
Convicted - moved and changed
Teachable - listens to authority