|
|
|
- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
|
|
THE PEOPLE
EVIDENCED THE RESULTS OF REVIVAL (Neh 8:13‑18) 7/18/10 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE PEOPLE CARRY OUT
BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION (8:13‑18) A. Special Instruction (13‑14) 1. [8:13] This section begins with “then on the
second day.” This was the second day of the seventh month of Tishri
(Gregorian Calendar ‑ September‑October). a) On the
“first day,” Ezra read from the Torah from the square and interpreted it for
the people (8:8). The people stood up in reverence for the Word (8:5) and
listened intently from morning to midday (8:3). The actual Feast of Booths
does not begin until the fifteenth of Tishri. b) On the “second day,” Nehemiah records
that, the heads of the father’s households, priests, and Levites gathered to
be taught in greater detail by Ezra. c) There was a desire on the part of the
leaders to “gain insight” from the Law. “Gain insight” is not the Hebrew word
bin that we have seen in 8:2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12,
which was used for: intellectual capacity (3), explanation and interpretation
(7‑8), and comprehension of concepts (12). Rather it is the word sakal and means the process of thinking
through a complex arrangement of thoughts resulting in a wise dealing and use
of good practical common sense (TWOT). These leaders desired not
only to know the deeper things of the Law, but also how to apply them to
their lives in a practical way. This is the essence of religious life and
revival. d) They met with Ezra the priest because he
was the right man for this purpose. Ezra approached the “study” (darash ‑ to seek with carefulness) of
the Law as a necessity, was burdened to make the Law a part of his personal
“practice” (asah ‑ to make or do),
and desired to “teach” (lamad ‑
teach or train) others to do the same (Ez 7:10,
cp. 2Ti 2:2). 2.
[8:14] It could be said that the
leaders met with Ezra for an in‑depth Bible study. a) They
studied from the Law what exactly the Lord had commanded Moses concerning
living in booths during the Feast of Booths. b) The passages they would have studied would
have been: (1) The
concept of the important Feasts (Dt 16:16) (2) The purpose for the Feast (Ex 23:16) (3) The instructions for the Feast (Le 23:33‑42) (4) The memorial of the Feast (Le 23:43) (5) The sacrifices during the Feast (Nu 29:12‑32,
36‑38) (6) The reading of the Law during the Feast (Dt
31:10‑13) B. Special Invitation (15‑16) 1. [8:15] After gaining insight from the Law
concerning the Feast of Booths, the leaders not only applied the instruction
to their own families but also to all the Jews in Jerusalem and surrounding
cities. They circulated a proclamation that instructed the people why they
were to make booths to live in, how to make them, and from what materials,
“as it was written”. 2. [8:16]
As a result, the people followed the Lord’s instruction as directed by
the leadership. They gathered the materials and set up booths in Jerusalem in
the square by the Water Gate and the Ephraim Gate. Nehemiah did not mentioned the Gate of Ephraim in chapter 3, but it was
possibly located just south of the Tower of Furnaces. This would have allowed
room around the Temple area for their special and numerous sacrifices. C. Special Feast (17‑18) 1. [8:17] Not only was Nehemiah able to restore the
wall of Jerusalem, but he was able, through the ministry of Ezra, to revive
the Jewish people. The “entire assembly” of those who returned from captivity
made booths and lived in them. 2. Nehemiah then records, The sons of
Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that
day. This phrase does not mean that they had not ever practiced the Feast
of Booths since the time of Joshua, because the Scripture records the
celebration of the Feast of Booths in Ez 3:4.
Rather, this is somewhat of a superlative expression often used to say that,
“this was the greatest festival in comparison to other festivals” (2Ki 23:22;
2Ch 30:26; 35:18). 3. It also suggests that there had not been
a spirit of worship, excitement, and obedience like this since the time of
Joshua. There was great rejoicing in obedience. Regardless how strange that
may have appeared to the non‑Jewish cities, they obeyed the Lord, and
did it with great joy (8:10). 4. [8:18]
Nehemiah reiterates the main reason for such a revival, namely the
daily reading of book of the law of God, “from the first day to the last
day.” They celebrated as the Law prescribed and there was great joy and
fellowship with their God and with other believers. II. THE EVIDENCES OF REVIVAL A. A greater desire to study
the Word (13, 18) 1. It was
the teaching of the Word that caused a revival in the hearts of the people
and as well as their desire for the Law of the Lord (1Pe 2:2). 2. David prayed for “revival” (chaya ‑ life, physical or spiritual)
according to God’s Word (Ps 119:25), and no one loved God’s Word like David
(Ps 119:97). 3. An evidence of biblical revival is a
greater hunger and desire to the study the Word (Mt 6:21). B. A greater desire to carry
out biblical principles (14) 1. The
leaders under Ezra did not merely want knowledge, they wanted to know the
knowledge of the Law and how it was to be applied. 2. Knowledge of the Bible is not contrary to
application of the Word. However, one’s heart must be active and engaged in
applying what was learned. It is not a matter of saying that an expositional
teacher does not give application. If he is an expositional teacher, he has
taught the Word and the Word gives its own application. What is missing is to
take what is heard and genuinely apply it to one’s life (Pr 2:1‑6). 3. Obedience to God’s Word is the purpose
for studying the Word. Obedience is what is necessary for the believer to
become more like Christ. The subject of revival is popular in our day, but
true revival is evidenced in genuine conformity to the Word of God (cp. Jn
14:15). 4. An evidence of revival is not doing novel
things, different things, or even bizarre things. Revival is simply and
obediently doing biblical things. C. A greater desire to help
others carry out biblical principles (15‑16) 1. An
evidence of revival in the heart of a believer is that he possesses not only
a genuine desire to change, but a genuine desire to see others change. 2. Revival begins in an individual, but will
not stop there. A genuine heart for God’s holiness possesses a respect for
God’s holiness over everyone and everything. 3. An evidence of revival is a greater
desire for the fellowship of like‑minded believers who are pursuing
holiness and an all‑out commitment to Christ and His Word. D. A greater desire to
recommit to old biblical convictions (14, 17b) 1. There
may have been biblical standards that a believer once held, but through
various reasons may have compromised or forgotten those biblical convictions. 2. An evidence of revival is re‑establishing
old biblical standards and convictions. E. A greater joy in doing the
Lord’s ministry (17c) 1. An
evidence of revival is a greater joy because there is greater obedience and
ministry for the Lord. 2. When a believer is firing on all
spiritual cylinders, the evidence is a joyous and revived heart. The joy of
the Lord is the strength of an obedient believer. Leadership pursues the steps of revival through the
Word of God, the biblical evidences of revival, the necessity to see revival
first in their own lives through study, practice, and teaching, and finally,
the necessity to see revival in all those who have been entrusted to their
spiritual care. |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
