Nehemiah 8: Keys to Successful Restoration

In the days of Israel, God had made a promise to His people that ifthey would not stop their idolatry; He was going to send them away intoBabylonian captivity. In accordance with His promises, God did just that.He also promised to bring them out of that captivity into a wonderfulrestoration, based on the word of God. It's that restoration in Nehemiahchapter eight that we're going to be thinking about today that parallelswhat's necessary for a Christian and his life to be restored to almighty God.We want to encourage you to get your Bible, have it ready as we'regoing and open it to Nehemiah chapter eight as we're going to study thiswonderful text, about the right heart that isn't necessary, for restoration withAlmighty God.Let's turn our attention to the predicament that Israel finds itself inunder the Old Testament. In Jeremiah Chapter 25 and in Jeremiah 29, Godhad made the promise to His people that if they did not amend their ways, ifthey did not stop their idolatry; God was going to send them into 70 yearsof harsh captivity under the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.Israel didn't stop, and as a result they went into harsh captivity. Along withthe promise of captivity, God also made the promise and Isaiah 44:28 andIsaiah 45:1 that once that 70 years was up, God would bring His people outof that captivity. According to His promise, by the hand of Cyrus, in the year536 God did just that. It is this process of coming back to God, began was Cyrus working through Ezra and Nehemiah. They restored worship; theyrestored the temple. They restore their hearts to a right place with God.In Nehemiah chapter eight, where we're going to be studying today,there are some ingredients or some steps that are necessary to getting ourheart right and to be restored with God like we ought to.Think about your relationship, each of us to think about ourrelationship with God and let's make sure that we're in the right place andrestored to where we need to be with Almighty God. If not, let's considerwhat this text teaches us is necessary.Look in your Bible in Nehemiah Chapter Eight. Nehemiah 8:1 says,‘When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.Now all the people gathered together as one man, in the open square thatwas in front of the water gate and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Lawof Moses which the Lord had commanded Israel.’ Here you've got such animportant and necessary step. If we're going to have restoration, I've got tobe united with God and His people. To have a restored heart to God,you've got to be one; you've got to be unified. You've got to want unity withGod and His people.This is so practical and so fresh, on the mind of the Israelitesbecause for years they had been divided, over spiritual matters. Thekingdoms had been divided, the Northern Kingdom and its tribes and theSouthern Kingdom and its tribes, and then you have a remnant that’sholding true to the scripture. You also have a whole bunch of adulterouspeople. They've been splintered and divided for a long time and yet thecaptivity helped them to realize, they needed to be one with each other andone with God. If restoration is really going to take place, God's people musthave a heart for unity. We must want that oneness with others and thatoneness that God can give us that unity that we can have with God.In the Bible God has always wanted His people to have unity. Listento Psalm 133:1. The Psalmist says, ‘behold how good and how pleasant itis, for brethren to dwell together in unity.’ Does God want His peopledivided? No, God wants His people united. Did you think about the two words there that are used? Unity is both good and pleasant. There aresome things that are good but aren't pleasant and then there's some thingsthat are pleasant, but aren't good. Let me illustrate. There are some thingsthat are good, meaning that they're good for you. One the doctor is good,getting the flu shot might be good but would you say that's pleasant? No,not really. Then there are some things that are pleasant, enjoyable but notnecessarily beneficial. Candy for every meal, a chocolate pie for everymeal might be pretty pleasant but is it good for you? No, now think aboutunity. Unity is good, beneficial, helpful, and pleasant. It's enjoyable. It'ssomething every person should strive for in this life.We're told in Ephesians 4:3, to keep the unity of the spirit, spiritualunity and the bond of peace. 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul came down hard onthe church in Corinth because there were divisions among them. Paul said,‘Let there be no divisions among you.’ What's so powerful about unity? Dowe realize that there's great strength in unity? I want you to listen to apassage, in the book of Ecclesiastes that helps us to understand this idea.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 the Bible says, ‘Two are better than one because theyhave a good reward for their labor, for if they fall one will lift up hiscompanion but woe to him who is alone when he falls. He has no one tohelp him up. Again if two lie down together, they will keep warm but howcan one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, twocan withstand him and a threefold cord, is not quickly broken.’ I canunderstand the strength and unity based off these principles and theseideas.If you take just one pencil, it is pretty easy to break that one pencilbut if you take that pencil and you multiply it and let's say you had 10pencils with a rubber band around it, it is very hard to break that. Why?There's strength and there's power in unity. There's strength in numbersand that unity creates strength. We can encourage, uplift, and help oneanother.Another powerful aspect of humanity is unity actually proves to theworld that Jesus is the son of God. Jesus prayed for it in John 17:20-21. ‘Ipray that they all may be one, as you Father are in Me and I you that they also may be one in us.’ Now listen to the reason: ‘that the world maybelieve that you sent me.’ What does unity express? Unity betweenbelievers in Christ, Christians, is a powerful exclamation point toChristianity itself, it proves to the world. We'll stand up and do what's rightno matter what because Christ is truly our all in all.When we think about having biblical restoration and the idea there inof being restored to God correctly, we've got to be diligent to strive topossess spiritual unity. That comes from following the oneness that Godhas set in the scripture. There is one Lord, one faith, one body, onebaptism, and one God and father above all. All the ones that are mentionedin Ephesians 4:4-6, are necessary if we're going to have unity. God wantsus to in the scripture.I want to direct your attention to another ingredient that is necessaryfor biblical restoration found in Nehemiah 8:2-3.’ Ezra the priest brought theLaw before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear withunderstanding, on the first day of the 7th month. Then he read from it in theopen square that was in front of the Watergate, from morning until middaybefore the men and the women and those who can understand,’ listen tothis, ‘and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.’Friend what ingredient is necessary, for biblical restoration to take place?There has to be a desire for unity-unity with God's creation and unity withGod.There also has to be an attentive heart to the Law of God. They toldEzra, ‘go get the Book of the Law.’ Ezra went and got a Book of the Law.He stood and read from it nearly all day and the people stood there with anattentive heart, attentive ear, and listened to the word of God. They didn’tlisten to what was public opinion, not what was popular, and not whatwould make people feel good. They didn't poll the audience and ask themwhat they wanted. They said, ‘Where's the Book of God? We want to hearthe book of God.’ When they found the Book of the Law, their ears perkedup and listened to what God had to say. They had an attentive heart to theword of God. The Israelites were so attentive to the word of God because they hadlacked that for so long. In that captivity, 70 years of harsh Babyloniancaptivity, where were the Bibles then? Where was the scripture then?Where was their freedom to open the scripture and study it and expoundupon it and read from it? Under captivity, that was a scarce thing becauseof the lack of their ability to have God's word in their life for so long. Theonly way today that we're going to have a real attitude of attentiveness tothe word of God, is when we realize the great value of God's word.Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 15:16, ‘your words were found and I did eatthem and they were to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.’Part of the problem that we face today in our, industrialized world withprinting presses and books everywhere is that there's mass availability tothe Bible and yet, we take for granted how powerful it is and how attentivewe need to be to it. It's readily available. I've got the freedom to read itanytime I want and yet so many times we just don't. Do we take it forgranted? What a treasure and privilege it is. The word of God is soimportant because it's what saves our souls. The Bible says in James 1:21that we're to ‘receive with meekness the implanted word which is able tosave our soul.’ What's going to save, men and women from being lost foreternity? The scripture is.Let's think about how powerful, important, and attentive we need tobe to the word of God because of its great value. Do we realize and do weremember that the Bible contains the words of life? Not just words of lifethe words of life that which can help us to be saved and live the best life.Jesus had made some hard statements in John 6:63. Some decided theydidn't want to follow Jesus anymore. Jesus turned to Peter and the rest ofthe disciples and he said, ‘Do you want to go away also here's yourchance? Do you want to go away also?’ Peter turned to the Lord and said‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ John 6:68,the Bible has everything, all things for life and godliness. The word of Godis able to completely equip us, for every good work, 2 Timothy 3:17. If youwant to live the best life, you want to make sure that you're living in such away, you can go to heaven. You want to live the full, complete, abundantlife? The Bible contains the words of life. The Bible has the ability to edify us to build us up and help us to be closer to God. To the elders in Ephesus,Paul on the beach of Miletus says, ‘So now brethren, I commend you toGod and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give youan inheritance.’ Among all those who are sanctified, are you going to bebuilt up spiritually? You want to make sure that inheritance is yours andthat you can grab hold of it and maintain it. It's the Bible that has the powerto do that. We need an attentive heart to the word of God because it'sGod's word that helps us be convicted.We have sin in our life. None of us probably like to admit that or comeface to face with it, but it's true. From time to time we all sin and fall short.You know what great value of the Bible is? It helps us to realize that and toget that out of our live. Acts 2:36 the Bible says, Peter stood up andproclaimed, ‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, God'smade this same Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ The Biblesays, ‘Those Jews who heard that and we're attentive to it, they were cut tothe heart.’ What's that mean? The Bible pricked their heart. They cried out:‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?'Saul of Tarsus, who had gotten hardened by his zealous Jewishupbringing, is softened by the word of God. Acts 9 Saul is intent, ondragging men and women to prison persecuting them. Some of them mighteven die. He's presented with Jesus on the way to Damascus. When herealizes it's truth, his ears perk up. ‘Lord, what would you have me to do?’God's word is able to help us overcome sin. ‘Your word,’ the Psalmist said,‘I've hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you,’ Psalm 119:10-12.If I've got a good working knowledge of the word of God and my heart isattentive to that, when I find my ways aren't what they ought to be, itencourages me. I want to get back right with all mighty God.Then of course the Bible has the power to help us to help us realizewhy we are here, where are we going, and where we'll end up. We realizeI'm here as a creation of God, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:7. I'm not going tobe here real long. Life is but a vapor, James 4:14. We have 70 maybe 80years, Psalm 90:10-12. One day I will stand before Almighty God. Everyknee will bow, every tongue will confess, and I'll give an account of how I lived my life. ‘It's appointed to man once to die and then the judgment.’ IfI've listened to the word of God and I've lived my life by that, on that greatday, I'll hear those wonderful words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’If I've turned a deaf ear to the word of God, then I'll hear the words: ‘Departfrom me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.’ I want to have amindset that desires unity with God and others. I want to have an attentiveheart to God and His word.A third ingredient that is necessary for biblical restoration is greatrespect, in my life, for the word and the authority of Almighty God. Look inNehemiah 8:4-5. The Bible says, ‘So Ezra the scribe, stood on a platform ofwood which they had made for that purpose and beside him at his righthand stood Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, Maaseih and athis left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana,Zechariah and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all thepeople, for he was standing above all the people.’ Now watch this, ‘Andwhen he opened it all the people stood up.’ Why? After 70 years of harshcaptivity, it finally dawned upon the Israelites how powerful and how much,they needed to respect the Bible. As that voice of God is opened beforethem, they stand up out of honor and respect for the word of God. We needtoday that same respect for God and His word.Do we realize that this book is the very voice of God speaking to ustoday? All scripture is breathed out by God, 2 Timothy 3:16. The pages inthis book are not just ink and paper. It is God's message for me. Holy menof God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and God tells me inthis book how He wants me to live. This is how we please God. Out ofrespect for almighty God, I want to respect the scriptures. I want to realizethis is God's word, and I've got to live in harmony in such a way with it thatone day I can bring honor and glory to almighty God in every way and inevery occasion. As we think about God and we think about God's messageand how to please Him and give glory and honor to Him in each and everyway, that's what this is all about in every avenue and in every way.As we think about this idea, Nehemiah 8:6, I want to give us thenanother principle that will help us. Ezra blessed the Lord, the Great God. ‘Then all the people answered Amen, while lifting up their hands, theybowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.’What's necessary for biblical restoration, from Nehemiah 8:6? There has tobe absolute worship for God with fear and reverence. Look at the people.They bowed down. The act of bowing one's face to the ground was a signof reverence and fear and all of Almighty God. Exodus 3:5, as Moses isthere with that burning bush, he bows down with his face toward theground. Isaiah six, Isaiah feels humbled to be in the presence of God. Thenof course, you have John in the book of Revelation. All of these exhibit thisidea of one's face going down, representative of reverence or fear, for allmighty God in worship.If we're going to have biblical restoration, it's got to be based onrespect for who God is and how God wants me to worship Him. There's alot of seeming disrespect, for God in worship today. When you to look atsome of the things that are done today, you've got so much that it makeslight up what's going on. The people who are jumping around and holleringand jumping over pews and all this supposedly miraculous stuff that's goingon that people are just trying to make a big show out of- it's almost like acarnival or a circus as it were today. We need to realize God wants us toworship Him in a way that brings glory and honor to His name and out ofrespect for Him not me. Out of respect for God, I want to worship Him theway He wants me to. God is a spirit. Here's what he says, “God is a spiritand those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and in truth.” Ourattitude and the way we approach God, must give Him true honor andglory.Then a final ingredient that is necessary for biblical restoration is tocome to the scripture and try to understand what God wants us to, basedon His word, a proper understanding of God based on the Bible. Listen toNehemiah 8:7-8. The Bible says also, ‘Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin,Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanahand Pelaiah and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law andthe people stood in their place. They read distinctly from the book in theLaw of God, and they gave the sense or the understanding and helpedthem to understand the reading.’ Here you've got people who studied the scripture a long time. Some of these people haven't for many yearsstudying the Bible. What did they do to really understand the script? Didthey get out and commentaries and give everybody's idea and taking anopinion poll? No- they read distinctly to them from the Bible. If we reallywant to have biblical restoration, let's turn people back to the word of God.Let's turn people towards the scriptures. Let's read God's word. Paul said inEphesians 3:4, ‘you can understand the knowledge of Christ, when you'veread these things, give attention to reading.’ We want to point people to theBible to help understand it. If I want to understand the Bible, I want to letthe Bible be its own best commentary. Then of course, I want to applyGod's message to my life. ‘The things that you've heard and read andseen,’ Paul said, ‘these do and the God of peace will be with you.’Too many times people are turned toward entertainment and whatsomebody somewhere who is a religious person says-let's turn people tothe Bible. ‘Is there any word from the Lord?’ Jeremiah 37:17. That's howwe're really going to be restored to all mighty God. Just like in the days ofNehemiah, how wonderful it was that they had the opportunity to get backright with God. Nehemiah 8 is such an encouraging scene because thepeople, regardless of persecution or what it takes, they're going to put Godand His word above all else. We need that same attitude among the Lord'speople today.May God help each of us to have the right heart for unity to look tothe word of God and be attentive and respectful for what God wants, sothat one day He'll call upon us as His children with words ofencouragement and hope: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’May God help each of us to live in that way.Questions for: Old Testament Studies: Lesson 21. According to Psalm 133:1, what is good and pleasant?2. According to Ephesians 4:3, we are to keep unity of what?3. According to 1 Corinthians 1:10, there are to be no what?4. How does Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 describe unity?5. What did Jesus pray for in John 17:20-21?6. In Nehemiah 8:2-3, what did the people have a desire to hear?7. How is the word of God described in Jeremiah 15:16?8. According to James 1:21, what can save our soul?9. According to Psalm 119:10-12, what can help prevent sin?10. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, where does all scripture come from?