Glorious Rebuilding

Nehemiah 8:1-12; 9:1

The books of Ezra-Nehemiah recounts a time when God’s people were in a time of intense difficulty but were ripe for a fresh work in their hearts through His truth. The book of Nehemiah is really about a faithful God who is faithful to keep His promises to His people that He has made since the beginning.

This man Nehemiah is in exile because of the idolatry of Israel but was commissioned by God to build the walls of Jerusalem that have been burned down and destroyed by the babylonians. because of idolatrous kings, the northern kingdom of Israel was taken captive by Assyria, and the southern kingdom of Judah was taken captive by Babylon.

And even though there was much opposition, he and his team were successful. God again proves His faithfulness but in this chapter, He proves His faithfulness by not only establishing the physical parts of the city, but by establishing the people. He revives and renews them. This is all a part of His plan since the beginning of this book.

Read Text.

Intro

Most of us love a good story. Particularly we love stories of something being restored and rebuilt back to original condition. (illustration: 9/11 history/Freedom tower)

Nehemiah is a story of a glorious rebuilding.

This story it’s just a small part of a grander story that God is telling. It’s a glorious unfolding story.

In our series glimpses of glory, we’ve been surveying big chunks of the bible and moving fairly chronologically through the scriptures to find the ways in which God has revealed Himself, behold Him for all He is worth, and seek to become like Who we behold.

We are hopefully seeing that the bible is not just made up of singular characters and stand-alone stories but the bible is one unified story that displays God’s glory. This is our last sermon in the Old Testament for this Series so this is something I do not desire us to miss.

This is a story unfolds by God’s providence. Beginning in a garden and ends in a garden. From the beginning it has stories of tragedy and victories but all of this is pushing a plotline forward that reaches its climax with God redeeming the world from death and destruction. The main character, is not you and it’s not me. Even in all the minor stories, It’s ultimately about God Himself and what He has done to redeem His people once and for all. “This means that you and I are living the grand production of the Cosmic Artist whose masterpiece is staged in all creation, unfolding across world History”-Hamilton I hope that from this text and from this last sermon in the OT I can demonstrate that for you a little bit.

This is a story still being written today because He is still building His people even when in our culture, christianity seems to be in decline. there’s a big emphasis in our culture right now on deconversion stories or deconstruction (Expound)

i’ve heard a pastor say recently, that in this cultural moment, we often run to the news outlets first and believe headlines more than we believe the word of God

Main Point: God’s glory is displayed when His Word revives and establishes His people.

The word in scripture gives the idea of imparting fresh life to something that once had life in the past. Its to recover life and keep alive. This is sovereign work of God that happens when His Spirit is poured out upon an individual or a large group of believers. It’s a wonderful work of restoration— Maybe some of us need this today. Maybe you have noticed your Spiritual life and passion have been dwindling. Or you have significant doubts and hurts that are driving away from Christ. We will see that God is committed to us and is committed to revive us.

What I’m giving is not some sort of formula to make revival happen. But this passage gives us a way in which God will continue to make us resilient disciples of Jesus.

Three main components of the revival that God’s Word brings...

A Revival of Passion for God’s Truth- Vs 1-8

Read Vs 1-3sermon

The first step in rebuilding a Holy people who can inhabit a Holy land, is to bring God’s law.

This is the first event of a week long celebration among God’s people. Nehemiah’s vision went far beyond just the rebuilding of the citiy- He knew he was involved with building the people of God. As someone said, Nehemiah knew that the strength of the city was not in the height and strength of its walls- it was the content and strength of the people’s character. The walls didn’t keep the babylonians out the first time so their hearts for God needed to be rebuilt.

This first section is very interesting because, as you heard, it reads very much like a list of facts. The author just listing out what happened. When God’s people experience a renewal in their hearts, a passion for His Word is always restored. What does this passion look like?

First, It says that they gathered as one man- There’s this unified purpose and mindset. There’s a unity that can be felt.

The basis of their unity, is ancient, unchanging truth.

Notice it said that all who could understand were present and were listening. That can be a wide variety of ages, yet there was still a unity.

Can you picture the great anticipation and excitement? This truth is what they knew but didn’t have immediate access like we do today. They needed to have the book taken out and proclaimed in order for them to take it in at the very same time.

Perhaps like a concert, there was chanting and celebration.

Can you picture them hearing the prophecy about the snake crushing seed of the women from Genesis 3:15? Or the story of how God delivered them out of slavery in Egypt by means of a mediator named moses? Or how about the substitutionary sacrifices that cover their sin In Leviticus? And of course, they probably wrapped up their time hearing from Deuteronomy that they are to love God and neighbor; the commandment that would later be called the greatest commandment.

Second, There was attentiveness

Did you notice that the time frame was morning till midday? I know even for me when a Sermon goes over 50 minutes I start squirming and maybe you do too.

This was probably 6 to 8 whole hours of just standing and listening to God’s Word!

There was passion. When you’re passionate about something, you make it happen, no matter the sacrifice.

Illustration: I remember going to yankee games with my Dad growing up and the passion that was in the stands as the stood on their feet for hours on end; especially when the game got more intense. True fans were attentive and made sacrifices to not miss a single pitch. I would hear stories of men purchasing season tickets for thousands of dollars and not missing a single game.

People go after what captivates them; what they find supremely valuable.

I love how it adds this detail to sum up the current sight: All the people were attentive to the book of the law.

Another thing that lends to this idea of attentiveness is verse 4 (read)- He is elevated to a visible place where all people can see him.

It says that the platform was made just for this occasion. It wasn’t built overnight. This was a planned event as the plan for the people was for their lives to be rebuilt and not just their city. (Expound)

As a side note, I love this idea of the book of the law being held above the people. (EXPOUND)

Third, There was a response of worship

Read Vs 6- They respond- all worship is a response from the heart to what is valued most.

They see the value of God’s word and they respond! First by agreeing that what was read is truth! They say “Amen amen”- Hb: Literally means “verily” or “trustworthy” In other words they hear the word of God and immediately respond by saying “Yes! This is true!”

Then they Lift their hands- Raising hands is always an act of worship because it communicates that God is above us and is to be exalted, it communicates that we desire to ascend to Him in order to be close to Him, and it communicates surrender and adoration.

Then they bowed with their faces to the ground- This is word used here in Hebrew for worship is the common word for worship in the OT. Notice that it isn’t connected to music. It’s defined as bowing low. It communicates humility and that you recognize God’s authority.

This is what true worship always consists of: Revelation and Response

Fourth, There was a hunger for deeper understanding

(Mention vs 7-8) It tells us that the levites were present and helped others understand what was a read. A commentator noted that the text was in Hebrew and needed to be translated into Aramaic because that’s what the people spoke, but nonetheless, the people were not content to just listen with no understanding.

There was a deep hunger for God’s truth to dwell in them.

For us:

Unfortunately, when the word “revival” is spoken of today, it normally has no connection to God’s word.

As I mentioned, there’s a lot of talk of emotional activity and charisma, but the bible always connects the renewal of His people back to the thing that truly shapes His people and that’s His Word.

The bible in our culture at large, and even among some professing christians, has taken a back seat. It’s looked at as outdated.

Perhaps they think that the bible’s message needs to adapt to the culture. Maybe it needs an upgrade. In such uncertain times, and in a post Christian culture, the question is raised: “Is preaching God’s word still enough? Is the Bible enough?”

I’m here to tell you, friends, that God’s Ancient Truth found in all 66 books of this bible does NOT need an upgrade. We don’t need to make it relevant; it IS relevant. The culture has no business changing it, in fact the bible is what shapes the culture.

If our God is unchanging, without error, and authoritative, then so is His Word.

When God’s people experience revival and renewal, which is something I believe we need individually and corporately, it always happened when we no longer disobeyed God’s word, ignored God’s word, or sought to bend it to our will, but rather, when we allow the bible to bend us and align us with God’s will.

Notice that the people here didn’t worship the book. We don’t worship the book of God, we worship the God of the book. When God’s word revealed who God was, they responded to Him- this is the core of true renewal. When our affections and our loves are reordered, recalibrated, and True worship is once again restored.

Something else happens when God’s Word Revives God’s people.

A Revival of Brokenness and Repentance- Vs. 9; Ch. 9

Read Vs 9

It says they wept. There was deep grief in their souls. We come to see later on that they were deeply grieved over their own sin.

Look at chapter 9v1-2 real quick- (Read)

The chapter goes on to detail the corporate confession that the people of Israel engage in.

They get specific about their sins and seek to look to God as their deliverer.

Here in our immediate context they don’t exactly engage in specific confession just yet but nonetheless, they are moved and are broken and repentant.

Illustration: I remember in bible college we had a weekly dorm cleaning. If you failed dorm cleaning, you were assigned housekeeping on a Sunday afternoon… (Expound on the light revealing more dirt)

When God’s Word is revealed and genuinely understood, understanding our own sinfulness is an unavoidable reality.

God’s Word is a revelation of who God is. When I see His holiness in HIs word, I recognize I’m not holy sometimes. When I see His loving character and the forgiveness He displays to His enemies, I find I’m a hateful and unforgiving person. When I see His perfection, I see my imperfections.

Here is another thing that is left out when revival is spoken of- a revival of repentance. Brokenness.

Brokenness is something not very popular to talk about today. But can I remind you, it’s actually very beautiful and is a means of great inward healing.

When you see His Holiness and yourself in light of His holiness, God doesn’t desire heightened flashes of emotion that just die out in a day. He doesn’t desire your loud singing that you perform to drown out your sense of guilt. He doesn’t desire your sacrifices of service and your money He desires a broken heart over sin, a heightened sense of rest upon Christ’s finished work, and a renewed passion for obedience. Listen to the words of King David as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit: For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Ps. 51:16-17

Brokenness happens the first time before you’re saved when you acknowledge that you’ve offended a holy God, Truly broken sinners don’t wallow in sin and shame. They throw themselves upon the mercy and grace of God understanding they don’t have what it takes to be right before God on their own.

2 Cor. 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death

But brokenness is not just for the moment of salvation, it’s an ongoing need in the Christian life. It’s like when Jesus is describing his upside down kingdom in Matthew 5 he points out: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Something important to notice about this work of turning back to God that happens corporately among God’s people is that it first started with one man. This man Nehemiah.

He was a broken man filled with repentance, concern for people, and a deep love for God. He wasn’t a preacher. He wasn’t a high preist or some distinguished spiritual leader. He was an ordinary man. A cup bearer to the king.

Look at the beginning of this book- Neh. 1:1-4 “Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven”

What defined Nehemiah was brokenness.

Nehemiah was this ordinary man who was used greatly by an extraordinary God. By his leadership and the people of God had their security restored to them and the walls were built. But it was Nehemiah’s personal revival of brokenness and the renewal of his passion for God and His service that that led to this moment right in front of us.

Personal renewal, proceeds corporate renewal. How we need this today.

Maybe there needs to be repentance today of our apathy and indifference toward people and our city.

Carlsbad has 114,253 people in it. 114,253 souls. This is situated within San Diego which as of 2019 has 1.41 million souls in it. Does it concern you at all that so many of these souls are on a path to destruction and are going to hell if they do not turn to Christ? Does it concern you at all that so many of these professing christians are looking more and more like the world?

Does it break your heart that the sins of our country are piled up over our heads? That we slaughter millions of babies in the womb each year? That there has been increased racial tensions and disunity? That there has been constant injustice done? That our country has put the American Dream above the kingdom of God?

Or what about the Jerusalem that’s in our own hearts? Maybe a coldness creeping in? Maybe worldliness that has crept in unnoticed and we’ve made peace with certain sins thinking they won’t affect us? Have we seen God in his holiness and really felt the weight of our sin? I ask you, when was the last time you were deeply broken over your own rebellion against God even as a Christian?

How do we ever expect revival corporately and and the renewal of our city through the gospel if we ourselves are unwilling to let God once again break us?

But we don’t end here. Because those who have a baptism of anguish and mourning over there sin, like Jesus said, will be comforted… Brokenness is beautiful because of the true joy it produces.

A Revival of Joy in God’s Salvation- Vs 10-18

Read vs 10-12- Very familiar coffee cup verse right here. Don’t forget, this is in context of Joy being restored after God had rebuilt His people through His word.

After Nehemiah and the Levites offers comfort, The people begin to celebrate a festival call the feast of booths. They read it in the law and as an act of worship they obey God and set up tents to dwell in for seven whole days. This beautiful time of revival among God’s people fell during a very celebratory time.

This feast was meant to be a reminder of God’s faithfulness to the people of Israel as God kept His promises to deliver and save His people from Egypt, and keep them safe through the time of the wilderness.

It was a reminder that those who are broken can run to God who shows us His faithfulness by bringing us salvation just as He had done in times past. This is what puts broken people back together and real spiritual life is brought back into their lives if a spiritual deadness has crept in.

Only God is the bringer of true joy. And What is going on here with the rebuilding of God’s people, the reviving of their Spiritual lives, and the renewal of their joy in God actually reaches its fulfilment later in the story line of the bible.

Notice Nehemiah’s comfort given in vs 10 once again.

He says “Eat the fat and drink sweet wine...” then he shows that the joy of the LORD, not some superficial happiness in circumstances, is their strength.

Think about the significance of wine. Wine throughout the scriptures was always a symbol of joy, renewal, and spiritual restoration. It was always present at celebrations and signified the joy God brings to His people as a result of His covenant faithfulness. This will make more sense in just one second.

In the book of Nehemiah we see yet another exodus story- God’s people are brought out of the exile under the oppression of the babylonians and are brought back into the land and the covenant between God’s people are restored and the people are brought to Joy.

God’s salvation in mind. There’s a rest in God’s Salvation and deliverance- not just what He can bring in their time but how he will act in the future through a King promised to them through the line of David.

This points us to the fact that what God is doing is rebuilding people and setting up a Kingdom that will have no end and a New Covenant where people will have new hearts and will have the ability to obey God. Nehemiah ultimately reminds us that human leadership isn’t gonna cut it. This points us to a better Nehemiah who will come.

In God’s unfolding drama we see a man, Jesus Christ, appear onto the scene. He claims to be God but then, do you remember his very first miracle? John Chapter 2 records this for us. He comes to a wedding for His friends and He turns water into wine. This is so interesting. He could’ve shown up and his first miracle could’ve been someone being raised from the dead or blind eyes being open. But water to wine? This is not just some strange or cool magic trick. The Holy Spirit is communicating something to us through this narrative.

Nehemiah brought the people to fresh wine in order to provide joy, but Jesus is the better Nehemiah because when Jesus turns water to wine He is declaring that He is the only true restorer of His people and the only true bringer of Joy. Even though Nehemiah wept for jerusalem and rebuilt the walls of the city, Jesus is the one also wept over jerusalem and who rebuilds, restores, and secures a people for Himself through Him dying on a cross, taking in full measure the wrath of God that we deserved to provide forgiveness for rebels like you and me. And rising again three days later, He provides new hope and new life, bringing broken people into a Kingdom characterized by restoration, healing, and redemption.

“With the temple and walls rebuilt, Nehemiah initiated a covenant renewal, typifying the way Jesus would come and replace the temple, provide the people with security, and initiate the new covenant.” - James Hamilton.

So now we as God’s people can have joy in God because of His great salvation He has provided.

If you have stumbled and are in need of a work of renewal, the gospel of Christ is still sufficient for you. You can be broken and repentant before Him having the confidence that God will always forgive you, restore your heart, and love you in Christ. I like how one preacher put it, Jesus was a carpenter, but in a sense, He still is a carpenter. Because he is building and rebuilding our lives in to what He desires for His glory.

You’re not beyond a reviving work of the Spirit of God. God is not reluctant to pour our His Spirit and bring you back to a confidence and joy in His Gospel and as a result, restore your enjoyment of Christ Himself.

Conclusion

So when God rebuilds the Spiritual lives of His people, when His word revives us, There’s a

Revival of Passion for God’s Truth

Revival of Brokenness and repentance

Revival of Joy in God’s Salvation.

By way of final application: Here are a few questions to ask yourself...

Have you grown apathetic in your pursuit of God’ Word?

Don’t give up reading it. Establish it as supremely important in your life! Don’t wait for passionate feeling to come first. No, get the horse back in front of the cart. As you pursue God in His word consistently, watch you heart grow more and more passionate for His truth and really, for Him.

Men, it’s time to lead and establish it as supremely important in your home (Expound).

God, through His word, can revive you and your home.

Have you grown apathetic in prayer and are no longer feeling broken over your own sin?

Here’s what you can do, just pray. Get alone with God, and ask Him to reveal to you that which is unrepentant or hidden. He’s faithful to you and will once again grant you repentance and fresh joy.

Have you grown indifferent toward our city? our country? our world? Do you long for the salvation of those you’re surrounded by?

Will you join me in praying for Spiritual awakening in our church, county, and country?

(illustration of John Knox in Scotland)

We must be encouraged, earlier I mentioned some research that Christianity is in decline. But this is merely cultural christianity (expound) --- if Cultural christianity is dying, then let’s let it die. God is still at work and is building and rebuilding His church making us in to not merely cultural christians, but resilient disciples of Jesus. We must believe the scriptures and behold His glorious work if we are going to have this perspective.

(Sum up main point)