Sunday, March 16, 2008 pm (This is a two part lesson - dealing with respect for God's word and authority)
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF
GOD’S WORD - 1
Nehemiah 8
It is no secret that we if we are to grow as Christians we need to study the Bible regularly. In past lessons we have devoted considerable time the importance of this activity in the life of a Christian. Tonight, I would like to look at an example of Bible study that is worthy of imitation. We want to examine Nehemiah 8.
The account. The walls of Jerusalem have been built, but there is still a need to restore true worship in Jerusalem. To help facilitate that, Ezra the Scribe is called upon and he brings the Book of the Law of Moses and reads it before the people. What happened that day is remarkable and a good pattern to help us get the most out of God’s word. Let us notice some things from this text.
I. 8:1 – The people gathered together as one man – there was unity of purpose. Together they desired to learn the word of God. Being of one mind and one soul will help each of us as we study the word together. Ephesians 4:13, Phil. 2:2, Romans 15:5-6. If we are likeminded we will be able to open our Bible and together study seeking for what it says, NOT what we want it to say!
II.
8:1 – The
Book of the Law of Moses. NOT the commentary of Nehemiah or Ezra, not
the latest theories on religion (you find some of that in Job), not a message
that tickled the ears of the people, or told them they were ok when they were
not, etc. IF we want to learn about God, we need to go to His source!
Psalm 19:7-8, Romans 1:16, 1 Thess. 2:13 they received it as the word of God.
III.
8:2 – it
was presented to ALL who could understand it.
Sometimes people think they cannot understand the word of God and some even
teach that. But the word is intended for ALL of us and we CAN understand God’s
law to us – Eph. 5:17.
IV.
8:3 – read
from morning until midday.
Not a short reading, but in-depth and lengthy. The New Testament does NOT
establish the length of time we should study the Bible. But it does point out
that we need to do it consistently. That is found in what we are expected to
learn and how we are expected to grow (Heb. 5:12-14).
It is seen in the command to “seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness” (Matt. 6:33)
How much time do we spend with God’s word? How much does it really mean to us?
V.
8:3 – the
people were attentive. They WANTED TO LEARN!
James 1:21 – we must receive with meekness the implanted word able to save our
souls. Read intending to LEARN! Hebrews 2:1-3 – give the more earnest heed to
the things we have heard.
Are we like Cornelius in Acts 10:33? Are we like Mary who listened to Jesus?
(Luke 10:39), etc.
VI.
8:4-5 –
Ezra stands on a platform of wood and opens the book.
Why are you here? It is my hope that you are here to hear the word or God!
Furthermore, Ezra opened the book! You have to open the book if you are going
to get anything out of it! How many of us leave our Bible on the coffee table
or in the car, etc?
VII.
8:5 – the
people stood up. Reverence. IT IS THE WORD OF GOD! His message
to us. Respect it as such.
It is not to be read simply as a novel. It is to be studied so that we can show
ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15); It needs to be looked at as God’s message
to us and treated with respect!
James 1:25 speaks of it being the perfect law of liberty. 2 Peter 2:21 speaks
of “the holy commandment delivered to them.” (speaking of one who turns from the
word of God.
We are not to add to it or take away from it, cf. Revelation 22:18-19, Galatians
1:6-9. We are not to go beyond its boundaries – 1 Corinthians 4:6.
VIII.
8:6 – Ezra
blessed the Lord – he prayed.
As we study the Bible, we need to pray to God for wisdom in discernment (Jas.
1:5)
IX. 8:6 – The people said, “Amen, Amen” - So be it! They wanted to hear the word not just for entertainment, but they intended to obey it. James 1:22-25 – look into it and continue in it!
X.
8:7-8 –
the Levites helped the people understand the word. They gave the sense
of the reading. We need to seek help in understanding it when possible. NOTE:
Yes we are commanded to understand the will of the Lord – that does not mean we
cannot seek help or that it will not take effort. Be thankful for those who
have documented their godly studies to aid you in yours.
Ephesians 3:4 Paul speaks of them reading it so that they could understand his
learning of God’s word.
What is the purpose of a preacher? To preach the word – not just to tickle ears
but so that the people can learn - 2 Timothy 2:2. We are to reprove, rebuke and
exhort. The idea of reproof involves conviction and convincing (especially when
one is wrong). 1 Timothy 4:11, “These things command and teach”
XI.
Sunday, March 23,2008 pm
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE WORD OF GOD – 2
Tonight we continue a study of Nehemiah 8 where having completed the walls, the children of Israel proceed to restore true worship to God. In our last lesson we noted that the people had gathered together to hear Ezra read the Law of Moses to them. We noted that it was a solemn occasion with many lessons to learn. First we noted that there was unity of purpose in learning the law. Next we noted that Ezra the scribe read to them from the Law of Moses (not the commentary of Nehemiah or Ezra, but the Law of Moses which was given by God). The source of their learning was God speaking to them. WE also noted that the book was read from morning until midday Indicating that it was more than a casual reading. In fact, we were told that as they read, Ezra and the priests helped them to understand what was being read. Also the people stood showing reverence for the word – realizing that it IS the WORD OF GOD.
Tonight we continue our study by noting first of all the reaction of the people at the conclusion of this event. We also want to talk about the feast of tabernacles which they observed and make some applications to the relevance of the word of God in our lives.
I.
8:9 – the
people wept when they heard the word. Weeping, as the occasion in our
text, can serve two purposes
1) There is sorrow because something is not right
2) There is joy because of some good that is done.
I believe both could apply here. Perhaps in preaching the word their sins
were exposed. Perhaps they came to a realization of why God had not blessed
them more abundantly (because they were not right).
Hebrews 4:12 describes the power of the word to convict. It is described as
living and powerful and able to pierce even to the division of soul and spirit.
In 2 Kings 22:9-13 we read of a godly king named Josiah. The law had been lost
(buried in the temple). As command was made to repair the temple, the “book of
the Law of the Lord” was found (8). As it was read, Josiah and the people were
convicted of their sins. As a result they made inquiry and made correction.
On the other hand, they had not listened to the word of God for so long that
when they finally heard it presented in sincerity and with purity – they realize
what they had missed. They understand the beauty of God’s word and it was
good to finally hear it again.
Friends, if there has been a drought of studying God’s word in your life. Maybe
you have never taken study seriously or you have neglected good habits you had a
while back. When you turn back to it – you truly see how wonderful it really is
and what you have missed. Such could cause one to weep.
AND then there is the sweetness of the message itself. Do we truly realize
the blessings God’s word reavels to us?
David said, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my
mouth.” (Psalm 119:103).
II.
8:10-12 –
There is rejoicing at the message. That is the attitude we need toward
His word.
Philippians 4:4 tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say
rejoice.” To the Christian there is no greater source of joy than God and
those things which belong to Him (which includes His Word).
Luke 15:7 speaks of there being more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents
than ninety-nine that do not need repentance. The people of Nehemiah’s day had
repented and there was cause for joy! God was now with them again. And as vs.
12 says, they made “great mirth, because they understood the words that were
declared unto them.”
III.
8:13-18 –
The people keep the feast of tabernacles.
There are some great lessons to learn from this point alone!
a. The feast of Tabernacles is recorded in Leviticus 23:34 – 43 as a reminder to them of how the children of Israel dwelt “in booths” or tents when delivered out of Egypt. They were to NEVER forget their deliverance. It seems that Israel had forgotten that feast and if and when it was observed they had diminished its significance. NOW they read the Law and discover the need to observe this feast. And they do! In fact they keep it so thoroughly that we are told it had not been kept in that fashion since the days of Joshua – nearly 1000 years! IMAGINE the word of God lost for a thousand years! How about for 1700-1800 years? What if for that period of time, while the word existed it had been perverted and watered down. And during that time there was debate and continual changes to the pattern. Could we ever find and restore the original?
b. How did they find out that they had not been keeping this feast? How did they find out about how to keep that feast? From the Law of Moses! As they listened to the word they discovered something they had not been doing so they inquired as to what they needed to do and then they did it!
c.
Illustrate with a High School baseball rule book. Imagine if in 150 or 200
years the game of baseball has been forgotten about. Suddenly, someone finds a
rule book and begins reading it. He likes it and begins studying the book
inside and out. Finally he figures out the game. Can he restore the game?
Yes! But how? By taking the rule book and applying all the rules. The book is
designed to explain how the game of baseball is played. But what if one says, I
want a different ball or I want 5 bases? Then what you would have is a game
SIMILAR to High School baseball but it is not High School baseball. What if he
said, “Let’s make the ball bigger” and “Let’s shorten the bases to 60 feet
instead of 90” and “Let’s slow down the pitching”. What you would have is no
longer baseball, but softball.
If you want High School baseball you follow the rules of the book WITHOUT
adding to it or taking away from it.
d.
THAT is
what we need to do with the word of God!
We need to APPLY what we learn from God’s word.
We NEED to seek for and keep His pattern in all things. We need that attitude
that we will observe all things commanded (Matt. 28:20).
We emphasize the importance of restoring the New Testament church! How can we do
that?
What does it mean to restore something? It means to return to its
original state. When it comes to the Lord’s church that is exactly what we need
to be doing.
But how do know what the original state was? We must go to a source
that reveals the pattern for the church and then start following that pattern.
IF (and only if) we follow that pattern will we find the New Testament church.
And that is something actually taught in scripture. Hebrews 8:5 reflects upon
instructions to Moses in Exodus 25:9 & 40 where the Lord spoke to Moses about
building the tabernacle of worship. From Hebrews we know that what God had in
mind was more than a tent. He was looking forward to the New Priesthood and
covenant which included the church! We find in chapter 9 that God’s pattern for
the tabernacle was looking forward to the church! Brethren God HAS set a
pattern and we need to follow it!
WHEN we follow the N.T. pattern, we will find the N.T. church. When
we follow a different pattern or we begin to make changes to the original we
will get something else. Denominations are a product of altering the
pattern of God’s word.
e.
It is no secret
that we owe much to men who around two hundred years ago desired to return to
the pattern of the New Testament in all things. Men as they studied the Bible
realized that what claimed to be the church wasn’t because they were not
following the pattern found in scripture. So they made a challenge that we,
“speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” There
was a desire for authority in all we do. How did they restore the N. T.
church? They went to the RULEBOOK and began applying the rules, ALL THE
RULES!
We strive to do that, but we must continue to study and if we find a need for
change, we must be willing to change. Let us realize that RESTORATION IS
NEVER DONE! We can do this when we understand that as the local church we
are not accountable to anyone else on earth.
Friends, that needs to be our attitude toward the word of God as we study it!
Study will do us no good if we do not apply what we learn!
Truly there is much to learn from the people of Nehemiah’s day as they sought to return to God. If we will do these things, truly we WILL get the most out of God’s word. Think about it! What are you getting out of God’s word?