Making Sense of God's Word
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Introduction
Hold up Bible - What are we supposed to do with this thing?
Ronald Regan said, “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”
Theodore Roosevelt said, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
Some people use it as a collectors item or a keep sake that gathers dust on a shelf.
I hope that is not you! I hope you have a great hunger and thirst to know what is hidden in between the covers of the greatest book the World has ever known!
The children of Isreal are about to be confronted by God’s Holy Word and the results are amazing!
What do the hearers need to know?
Ezra and Nehemiah are together again and it’s time to get the people in the Word.
There are four movements in the book(s) of Ezra-Nehemiah.
The return of a group of exiles and the rebuilding of the temple of God ()
The return of Ezra and the rebuilding of the people of God ()
The return of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall surrounding the city of God ()
The return of another group of exiles and the rebuilding of the people of God ()
Now that the wall is built and the people of God have been welcomed home,
Main Idea: What Will You Do With God’s Word?
Transition: There are three things Ezra and Nehemiah do to Help God’s people with God’s Holy Word.
· Understand it…
· Rejoice in it…
· Obey it…
Body
1. Understand the Word of God (vs. 1-8)
Lead in...What is the tension here? This was a very important time of year for the Jewish community. It was the first day of the seventh month! Why is this important? Because there were several celebrations during this month...
First day = Feast of Trumpets
Tenth day = The Day of Atonement
Fifteenth day to the twenty first day - Feast of Tabernacles
()
There was no better time for the children of Israel to hear from God’s word and understand what they were to do.
Now, for the first time, we get to see Nehemiah’s contemporary servant, Ezra the priest. And there are three important actions we see Ezra accomplishing for the people of God. The first thing we see him do is...
Bring the Book (vs. 1-2)
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.
No doubt the book he brought was the Torah (the five books of Moses). This book is the foundation of the Jewish religion and life! And it was Ezra’s goal that they UNDERSTAND!
Why would he bring this book? A good question for us to ask today. He could have chosen any book to bring, but he brought the word of God. It was this Word that not only created the nation of Israel but shaped it into a nation.
There is a a good principle in here for us. Bring the book with you. It will shape your life - give example.
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
Nehemiah 8:
He didn’t just carry the Word with him, he read from it publically.
He did this at the Water Gate (show map)
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Eph
Transition - By the way, he didn’t just pick a verse and pitch a fit. He read vast sums of the Word of God publically to them. Look at the next verses with me...
He did this at the Water Gate (show map)
Open the Book (vs. 3-6)
He didn’t just carry the Word with him, he read it publically.
He did this at the Water Gate (show map)
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.
3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
He didn’t just carry the Word with him, he read it publically.
He did this at the Water Gate (show map)
When the Bible refers to water, often times it is a picture of God’s Word...
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
Nehemiah
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Eph 5:26
Now I want you to notice the duration of his reading! He read it “from early morning until midday...”
He read it to people who could understand.
And notice their part in this process - “And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”
They wanted to hear from God. They come ready to listen. Good principle for us today.
Dr. Clearwaters - whenever the book is open, I can learn.
So Ezra the Scribe stood on a wooden platform (pulpit) that was made to elevate him above the people.
He had six men on his right and seven on his left.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.
They stood for the reading of Scripture - a testimony for their regard and respect for God’s holy truth!
Be Determined 1. We Must Understand the Word of God (Neh. 8:1–8)
Ezra started his reading and teaching early in the morning and continued through midday (v. 3), which means the congregation stood and listened for five or six hours; and this continued for a week (v. 18). No doubt from time to time, he gave the people opportunities to rest; but the people were there to hear God speak and were willing to stand and listen.
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
This is a serious time in the life of the nation of Israel! They are coming back into the land! The are being set apart for the glory of God. They are hearing from God through Ezra on how they are to live. And their response as Ezra finishes his reading and blesses the Lord, the great God?
They say, Amen, Amen - Which means “this is trustworthy! What Ezra has read is TRUE!
They agree with God and that agreement leads to true and authentic worship.
This is what should happen to God’s people when God’s word is read - IF THEY HAVE EARS TO HEAR!
But I want you to see one more step. He doesn’t only bring the book and open and read the book, he and his men do one more very important step. They...
The third thing we see Ezra do is...
Explain the Book (vs. 7-8)
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.
Nehemiah 8:
Ezra and his team of teachers set out to not just read the Word to the people of God, but to help them understand the Word of God.
When God’s people understand the God’s Word they transform to be more like God!
This is what Ezra the priest was called to do with his life.
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.
Ezra 7:
Not everyone is called to be a formal teacher of the Word. Ezra was. Perhaps you are?
Those called are a gift to the church!
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
As you can see from this text - If you are called to teach - teach well and bring the sense from the text (not your own mind or your own experience)!
If you are called to listen - listen well! Come to every event where the word of God is preached and taught and have your ears on!
When you read a bottle that says POISON, what do you not do? Consume it! You understand that!
Illustration – The power of the book to help one understand
We are to understand God’s word just as clearly.
Both teachers and listeners are called to “do” what God says.
Argumentation –
Application - Are you called to be an Ezra and help give the sense to God’s Word? What are you doing with this call?
Are you called to be a listener? What are you doing to prepare your ears (and heart) to receive a Word from God? It’s your responsibility to be a HEARER as well as a doer of God’s Word.
Review - What Will You Do With God’s Word?
1. Understand the Word of God
2. Rejoice in the Word of God (vs. 9-12)
Lead in...Well, if you remember in verse 7, the response of the people was agreement with the Word and a humble bowing down of their faces toward the ground. In other words, they were under conviction. And we see this clearly in the next verses. Look at the passage with me.
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.
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.
The people were crushed by their sin. How did they discover their sin? By the reading of the Law.
That’s what the Law of God does...
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
Other versions of this verse say that “The law of the Lord…revives the soul.” The point is it wakes it up!
By the way, when you are talking to a self-righteous person, the Law of the Lord is a powerful tool to humble them and show them their need for Christ (The Way of the Master)
This group of Jews understood how they had sinned against God as a nation and why God had punished them and sent them into captivity. This stiff-necked people had finally come home, not simply in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense as well. They were truly repentant for their sin agains their God!
And so now is no longer the time for grief and sorrow, but joy! Look at verse 10...
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.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Folks, when you are forgiven by the Holy God of the Universe, it is reason to CELEBRATE!
Rom 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Do you notice the command the Levites give the people at the end of verse 12? They “calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’”
Holiness is equated with joy! How can this be? When God’s people are truly a holy people - joy is the inevitable result because there is no better place to find ultimate joy and pleasure than in God and His ways.
Yes, when confronted with the holiness of God we see how sinful we are - and that causes grief. However, the holiness of God also gives us hope that, by His grace alone, we can become holy like Him. This is the pursuit of the Christian life - This is the hope we have for eternal life.
So the people of God were not to be grieved - they were to be full of joy!
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.
Nehemiah 8
Did you hear these last words? Because they UNDERSTOOD the words that were declared to them, there was great rejoicing!
Illustration - This is my testimony. When I truly heard and understood the words of the bible 29 years ago, at first I was grieved because I understood that I had sinned against God, my creator (the bad news of the Gospel).
But then, I rejoiced because even though I was a guilty sinner deserving of eternal death, God provided redemption for me through His Son, Jesus (the good news of the Gospel).
Argumentation - And this is the ongoing process of the Christian life. We hear the Word, we Understand the Word and we change to become more holy because of the Word and we thus grow in joy! If this isn’t happening in your life, it’s time to do some introspection.
Application - I have a very simple question for you this morning. Do you rejoice in the refining work that the Word of God is doing in your life?
Better stated, are you listening to God through His Word so the refining work can happen?
Daily open the Bible and ask God to allow the holiness of the Word to wash over your soul. Ask that God would root out the sin in your life. Ask God to cleans you. When you do, the burden of sin will be lifted and verse 10 will become your new reality… “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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.”
Review - What Will You Do With God’s Word?
1. Understand the Word of God
2. Rejoice in the Word of God
3. Obey the Word of God (vs. 13-18)
Lead in...What is the tension here?
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.
So it was the next day and and the heads of families, priests and Levites got together for the purpose of hearing God’s Word from Ezra.
As they were studying, they realized a command from the Lord to Moses. The people of God, the Israelites. They understand that they are to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (booths).
37 “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, 38 besides the Lord’s Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord. 39 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40 And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths,
37 “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, 38 besides the Lord’s Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord. 39 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 40 And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
This Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of the seventh month (Tishri). They discovered this information on the second day of Tishri which gave them two weeks to get ready for the feast! They were just in time to obey God.
By the way, we are always in this life, just in time to obey God!
They had to collect branches from various kinds of trees (vs. 15) and then construct the booths (temporary shelters).
Why would God have them do this odd camping exercise? Moses tells us...
43 that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 23:43
It was a physical reminder of how God delivered them from Egypt.
According to the text (vs. 17), it had been quite some time since they last obeyed God and celebrated this feast. But they were now determined to follow what God had laid out and commanded in His Law. In fact they were rejoicing while obeying.
Do you rejoice when you obey God?
And do you see what they do next? From the first day of the feast to the last day of the feast, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They were doing exactly what Moses commanded.
10 And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
My friends, I get that this is Old Testament. I understand that we live under a different dispensation. I am fully aware that we are not the children of Israel. Yet, do you think there are principles here for us to follow?
We must be obedient to God’s Word!
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
2 john
28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Illustration -
Argumentation - True followers of Jesus obey the word of God...
Application - How are you doing on the obedience factor?
1. Understand the Word of God
2. Rejoice in the Word of God
3. Obey the Word of God
Conclusion
Hold up Bible - So? What are we supposed to do with this thing?
Review - What Will You Do With God’s Word?
1. Understand the Word of God
2. Rejoice in the Word of God
3. Obey the Word of God
Ronald Regan said, “Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”
Action they should take
Theodore Roosevelt said, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
Some people use it as a collectors item or a keep sake that gathers dust on a shelf.
Land the Plane
My prayer for you is that you develop an insatiable appetite for this bread of life! If you do, you’ll never grow hungry again! And then you will truly live!
4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Connection Group Reflection Questions
1. What do these verses teach me about our character?
2. What do these verses teach me about God and his character?
3. Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth is he asking me to believe?
4. What do I need to do to obey him?
5. With whom can I share these truths?