Joining Nehemiah in Jerusalem ‘DOING A GREAT WORK’ PRESERVING THE WORK Chap 8

GOD’S WORD GIVEN FIRST PLACE, Chap.8 It is at the heart of all true revival e.g. in the days of King Josiah “And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord”, 2 Kings 22.8 BRING THE BOOK OPEN & READ THE BOOK TEACH THE BOOK OBEY THE BOOK,

BRING THE BOOK right gathering ‘all the people gathered themselves together as one’ right place ‘the street that was before the water gate’ Eph 5.25,26 right person ‘they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses’ a man of the Book! right attitude to obey ‘which the Lord had commanded to Israel’ right time ‘upon the first day of the seventh month’ – Feast of Trumpets = the regathering of Israel in the future Mt Is 27.12,13

OPEN & READ THE BOOK they hadn’t come to venerate a book, but to hear the voice of the God of the book Paul said, “give attendance to reading (public reading), to exhortation, to doctrine” attentive ears, v.3 from the morning until midday - 6 hours! ready feet, v.5 all the people stood up – respect reverence loosed tongues, v.6 “Amen, Amen” - affirmation hands lifted (dependence); heads, faces to the ground – humility submission focused eyes, vv.4,5 pulpit - in the sight of everyone – the focal point

TEACH THE BOOK ‘caused the people to understand the law’ HOW? ‘distinctly, and gave the sense…caused them to understand” reverence, care, clarity WHAT? the day is holy but be joyful – there is joy in restoration share with the poor & the outcast ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’, v.10. In the past their disobedience had brought grief to the Lord, but their obedience to His Word had now brought joy to Him. It is always a joy for Him to restore His obedient people. ‘Those who read Scripture or listen to its faithful exposition cannot ignore the cry of the destitute’. R. Brown

OBEY THE BOOK The second day arrived a group sat down with Ezra for a ‘Bible reading’ - they wanted to know more! they found that they should dwell in booths (tents/huts) during the Feast of Tabernacles If you seek, you will find they had not kept the feast like that since the days of Joshua – why start now? because the Word of God said so because they found it out for themselves OUTCOME ‘there was very great gladness’ - obedience leads to happiness

It must have been an amazing sight – booths/tents made of branches everywhere in Jerusalem!

led to Ch.9 confession, worship & covenant led to Ch.10 commitment not to forsake the house of God led to Ch.11 commitment to live in Jerusalem led to Ch.12 - companies of worshippers in Jerusalem ‘So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God…for God had made them rejoice with great joy…the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.’ obedience