Rejoice In God’s Word – Sermon 27 January, 2013

Rejoice in God’s Word

Nehemiah 8:1-12

Yesterday we celebrated Australia Day commemorating the establishment of the first settlement at Port Jackson in 1788. It is an opportunity for us as Australians to come together to celebrate our country and culture, reflecting on the achievements and exploring new ways to make the country even better in the future.

Australia Day is a joyous and happy occasion for all Australians; celebrations of various kinds and forms, fireworks, Australian of the Year Award/Awards and special Citizenship Ceremonies in a festive atmosphere.

We read in the Book of Nehemiah about a similar happy occasion.

The Bible tells us that three different groups of Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity under three different leaders. The first group was led by Zerubbabel in 536 B.C. Eighty years later the scribe Ezra led the second group in and twelve years later the third group led by Nehemiah.

Nehemiah’s heart was open to God and sensitive to His leading. So as Nehemiah fasted and prayed and sought God concerning the fulfilment of His promises to Israel in His Word, God touched Nehemiah and told him to go. The first seven chapters of Nehemiah’s book record the story of the third return and how the walls of Jerusalem were built regardless of strong opposition. When Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem he looked over the city for three days and formulated a plan to accomplish this very difficult task. With God’s help the job was completed in a record 52 days (6:15).

Interestingly the chapters 8-10 deal with the spiritual condition of the Israelites before God. Though they were behind the security of new gates and walls and not exposed to robbers or armies, they had another issue to deal with. Clearly they needed a deeper spiritual life, as we all do. Being God’s chosen people or part of the church today, does not necessarily mean having the luxury of God’s blessing and protection. The need of a healthy spiritual life based on the Word of God is a must. The spiritual life only comes from the Lord and comes through His Word, prayer, and confession, humbling oneself before God and deliberately turning from wicked ways. The people of Israel who returned safely from their exile needed spiritual leadership. Though Nehemiah was a political leader, he was given the ability to lead the people in their spirituality.

Chapter eight records one of the most thrilling and remarkable celebrations of the work of God. It also clearly demonstrates three actions to be taken to have a spiritual revival.

I. Read and Recall the Word (1-8)

The people of God desperately needed the Word of God in their hearts and minds and not only the protective walls around Jerusalem. The people needed to focus on the Word of God. They gathered at the Water Gate and Ezra the scriber took the stand on a large wooden platform so that all the people in the assembly could see and hear the reading of the Word. The scene would have been memorable. Ezra was in the middle of the platform with thirteen priests, opened the book/scroll of the Word of God, the people stood up giving full attention to the Word of God and their lives were changed. Everyday Ezra read from the book for six hours “from early in the morning (around 6:00 am) until midday.” In the midst of these long sessions of the reading of God’s Word, they broke up into smaller groups so that thirteen Levites could explain to the people what they had just heard (vv. 7-8). Reading book by book and giving explanation was due to the hunger of the people for the Word of God (v. 8). Today we need to read, study and try to understand the Word of God. May God once again grant us this kind of hunger for verse by verse reading and exposition of His Word. When He does, revival is not far away.

II. Respond to the Word (9-12)

When the people heard the Word of God and understood as it was explained, they realised that they were sinful and they wept and mourned. The Word of God does not only give light, it also brings great joy after repentance. The people wept openly because they felt the grief of their disobedience. Without repentance and turning from our sin there cannot be the joy and strength of revival.

After the people had continued mourning for some time Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites urged the people to weep no longer. The Word from the Lord in verse ten is, “Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The initial response to the true declaration of God’s Word was sadness and weeping, feeling sorry for the sins committed. Then joy prevailed when the people understood what God has done for them knowing the reality of what it means to be forgiven, cleansed, and accepted again. When this happened they experienced joy. They were overwhelmed with joy because the Lord had again become the centre of their lives. They felt secure in their relationship with Him.

When God’s people understood the Word which had been made known to them, they were satisfied and went to eat, drink and celebrate. May we also enter into the celebrations that honour God and allow Him to fill us with His joy and strength.

III. Implement the Word (13-18).

Verses 13-18 demonstrate the people’s desire to know and do the will of the Lord. From the second day until the seventh day the people sought out Ezra to hear more and gain further insight (vv. 13-18). As a result of joyful interacting with the Word they received the strength to apply the Word to the situation in which they were living. Therefore on the fifteenth day they made temporary shelters to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths (Lev. 23:33-43) as Scripture had asked them to do. This practice was instituted so that they might meditate annually on God’s great deliverance from Egypt. During these days they were to think about God’s protection and guidance during their years of wandering and the fact that God still protects and guides those who trust and obey Him.

Not for 1,000 years, since the days of Joshua, had this festival been held, at least in this scale (v.17). This applying the Word created a unity within the community. A new spirit of sharing, of togetherness, and a linking of believers was now possible because of the new work of God wrought in their hearts by a willingness to heed the Word. They joined together obeying the Word and God poured out His blessings upon them. The spirit of renewal began to heal their divisions and they find themselves strengthened in the joy of the Lord.

The spiritual renewal of the people begins with a challenge to the mind, continues with an effect on the emotions and concludes with a change of the will. A study of Scripture always calls for a response to these questions: What should I do with this knowledge? How should my life change? We must do something about what we have learned if it is to have real significance for our lives. The teaching of God’s Word encourages us for more teaching of the Word. It is helpful to remember our journey to also appreciate what God has brought us through as we trusted and obeyed. Let’s think back on a time in our life when God worked in a great way.

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem he found more than broken walls, he found broken lives. In response He gathers the people to hear the priest Ezra read and explain God’s Word. The people understood, responded and wanted to hear more so that they could apply the Word to their lives.

Where do we stand in this matter of spiritual appetites and hunger for the Word of God? Are we experiencing the joy, strength and unity that God has for us? Are we submitting ourselves to the teaching of the Word of God and allowing Scripture to infuse our thinking, regulate our emotions and direct our wills? Only as we put into practice what is taught in the Bible can spiritual, emotion, and mental well-being become part of our experience.

On this weekend as we celebrate Australia Day and have happy and joyous celebrations remembering all the achievements let us not forget to thank God and hear, respond to and implement His Word in our lives. Experience the cleansing emotional renewal, the satisfying joy, the empowering strength and the encouraging unity that comes from full fellowship with the Living God through the obeying of His Word.

Krikor Youmshajekian