Pastor Jann Braaksma
We begin today with the reading of the Word of God. Nehemiah 8:5-12 please.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”
Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Levites instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep”. For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is you strength.”
The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
The book of Nehemiah concludes OT history, when the Jewish exiles were permitted to return to their homeland from captivity in Babylon and Persia.
The purpose of the book of Nehemiah was to complete the recording of the post-exilic history begun in the book of Ezra, and to show what God did on behalf of the remnant through the godly leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra during the third stage of the post-exilic restoration.
The passage we heard recalls one of the greatest revivals in the Old Testament. All the people assembled and listened attentively.
For seven day, six hours each day, Ezra read from the Book of the Law.
One of the greatest evidences of true revival among God’s people is a deep hunger to hear and to read God’s Word.
How are we doing in our Bible reading? I’m not pointing any fingers. Remember if I point one finger, three more point back at me. I’m just asking.
Ezra and the Levites demonstrate what should happen whenever God’s Word is proclaimed to His people.
Many of the returned exiles no longer understood Hebrew, for their language was now Aramaic.
Thus when the Hebrew Scriptures were read, a group of dedicated men translated it into Aramaic and explained its meaning in a manner that the people could understand and apply to their lives.
As a result the people rejoiced “because they now understood the words that had been made know to them.”
Revelation, repentance, revival and rejoicing are all potentially present and waiting to be released by the Holy Spirit through anointed messengers who proclaim God’s Word with clarity, power and conviction.
Who releases the revelation, repentance, revival and rejoicing? You? Me? Yes, The Holy Spirit.
When the people heard and understood the Word of God, they felt a deep conviction of sin and guilt.
The passages of the Law that brought a clear revelation of their spiritual condition may have been those passages speaking of God’s blessing or judgment, depending on the peoples’ obedience or disobedience to His Word.
Let’s hear excerpts from Deuteronomy 28.
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands;
You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock – the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees:
You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.
The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.
In revivals, weeping, when accompanied with profound repentance is a sign of the work of the Holy Spirit. Turning from sin in sorrow brings God’s forgiveness and the joy of salvation.
Again, who does the work? You? Me? No, the Holy Spirit.
The Jews highly prized foods prepared with much fat and drinks that were sweet. Much of the ancient wines were boiled and condensed until they were very sweet and thick like honey or jellies. They had to be greatly diluted before they could be drunk.
The declaration of God’s Word, accompanied by a sincere desire to follow its instruction, will result in a true, heartfelt joy. This “joy of the Lord” is based on reconciliation with God and the presence of the Spirit in our lives.
It is maintained by the assurance that we have been forgiven in Christ and restored to fellowship with God, and that we now live in harmony with His will.
Such joy acts as a fortress to guard us from the troubles and temptations of each day and as the power and motivation to persevere in faith until the end.
Have you been restored to fellowship with God?
Are you living in harmony with His will?
Can you persevere in faith until the end?
Let us pray.
Resource: The Full Life Study Bible