Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Celebrating the Basics Nehemiah 8:1-12

High School reunions and Family reunions are two traditions that bring people back to their roots. Though in some cases these milestone-celebrating events can cause a great deal of hesitation or anxiety (depending on who you will see at these functions), more often than not, these kinds of parties offer everyone in attendance a unique opportunity to check up on special friends and family members. However, on occasions like this, people are inevitably given to investigating how they stand up to their peers of yesteryear and some even weigh their success according to how they compare to their cousins or long-lost friends. Depending on what is uncovered, the reunion can either give people a reason to celebrate or go home disappointed.

In Nehemiah 8, a reunion of sorts takes place for the Jewish people. This milestone event comes as they commemorate the completed wall-building project. However, this reunion is not with a graduating class or extended family. Instead, they are reunited in this chapter with the Law of God. Imagine competing with or comparing oneself to that high of a standard! Let us see if this reunion ends in celebration or in disappointment as we look at two actions involved in the reunion of Nehemiah 8.  


The Law is Presented-8:1-8

Nehemiah 7 provides an account of all the men, priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other servants who now resided within Jerusalem’s newly constructed walls. The whole combined assembly numbered 42, 360 (not including the male and female slaves). This small but resilient people finally had the protection that a sturdy perimeter provided and the opportunity to flourish for God’s glory. Now that the construction was complete, it was time to fill the space with a dynamic, God-glorifying nation.

While Nehemiah 1-7 describes how God rebuilds a wall and provides a practical blessing, Nehemiah 8ff describes how God rebuilds a distinct community of His people, thereby providing a spiritual blessing. What is the first order of business to this end? The answer involves re-acquaintance with the law. As chapter 8 begins, Nehemiah recalls how “…all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel…” (8:1). In this account we learn two things about the community in Jerusalem: they were united (“all the people gathered as one man…”) and they requested to hear from God (“they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law…”).

In response to this united request, “…Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month…” (8:2). Most scholars believe that the “law” mentioned here refers to the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament). Although, by this time, the law was a familiar document, something very unfamiliar took place when this code was read in Nehemiah 8. Ezra made the Scriptures available to everyone, “men, women and all who could listen.” Although women did not participate in ordinary meetings, here not only were they permitted to attend, but so were any children old enough to understand what was being said. No longer was the law reserved exclusively for professionals to preserve and teach. God’s message to His people was something from which all could learn. 

Perhaps with a new temple (see Ezra) and a newly designed wall (see Nehemiah 1-7), God saw fit to make renovations in how His revelation was distributed.

The details surrounding what took place at this initial reading indicate that this was a special occasion in the life of the Jewish people. According to what Nehemiah says next, Ezra, “read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate form early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law…” (8:3). The prominent place Ezra took advantage of (in front of the Water Gate), the time He decided to begin (from early morning) and the running time given to this exposition (until midday), paint this occasion in vibrant, eye-catching colors. Everyone showed up for this and, not only were they present, but they were so taken by the presentation of God’s Word that Nehemiah reveals, “they were attentive” for no less than five hours!  

To add to the ceremony of this moment, “Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And Beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hiliiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, MIshael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand…” (8:4).

The ancient pulpit that was erected and the associates standing nearby work together to indicate how significant everyone believed this presentation to be in their lives and history.
To put the final touches on his account, Nehemiah describes for us exactly what kind of mood was present when all of this took place, “Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up….” (8:5). A quiet reverence, respect, and sense of awe enveloped these Jews as they stood and listened to the words of God (from daybreak till noon [8:3]).

The entire description of this inaugural/celebratory service suggests that the people of God (having just recently seen His mighty hand of provision in the rebuilding of their wall), respected and revered His revelation with a new kind of reverence. What God had revealed in His word was placed front and center on this day.

Following this well-attended and awe-inspiring homily on the law, “Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen!’ while lifting up their heads; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground…” (8:6). In agreement with all that was presented (as indicated by the exclamation “Amen, Amen!”), the people responded to the reading of God’s word with fervent worship. Humbled by what was revealed about the awesome power of God (in Genesis), the provision of God (Exodus), the holiness of God (Leviticus), the plan of God (Numbers), and the law of God (Deuteronomy), the people prostrate themselves on the ground in humility. Though this kind of response is unfortunately not commonplace in western church services, when one understands how everyone in attendance in Nehemiah 8 actually paid close attention to what was said, bowing down and worshipping seems a natural and appropriate response to this kind of presentation of God and His matchless glory.

In addition to humble worship, Ezra’s presentation of the Word of God was followed by detailed explanations, “Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading” (8:7-8). For those in attendance on this day, it was not enough to hear the word of God; these wanted to study it and understand it so that its “sense” could be applied appropriately in their context.

 This presentation of the Law reveals that not only did the people desire the word of God, they worshiped God in response to its preaching and wanted to study it for themselves. As far as building a distinct group of Godly people is concerned, this seems to be a wonderful first step in the right direction.

But why? What is the Law? The Law was God’s Old Testament prescription for entering into and maintaining a right relationship with God for the Jewish people. As no other nation possessed this Law and no other people was given a similar program for relationship, the Torah (first five books of the Old Testament) was a sanctifying agent in the lives of Old Testament Jews. Attention to and application of the law of God set the Jews apart from every other nation. Inasmuch as the Jewish nation had recently been in exile and unable to enjoy a worship service like this, such presentations helped remind the Jews of their distinction and special place in God’s program of redemption. At the end of the day, these Jews would have been able to say with conviction, “We have been made special because of our special God!”

The Law is Celebrated-8:9-12

However, something else was happening, something that required swift action from Nehemiah, “Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law…” (8:9). After being brought face-to-face with God’s matchless standard as presented in the law, the people were humiliated to the point of despair. This is not unlike what Isaiah concludes in Isaiah 6 after seeing the glory of God, “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”

What both Isaiah and the Jewish people of Nehemiah’s day should have understood was that their confrontation with the holiness of the Lord was evidence that God, in spite of their imperfections, desired to use them in some amazing way. This is why Nehemiah encourages the people not to mourn or weep. What God wanted to accomplished would be accomplished through His holiness—not in their lack of holiness.

Instead of mourning and weeping, Nehemiah provides some alternative activities, “…Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’…” (8:10). “Eat of the fat” calls to mind the delicious, festive foods that were prepared for special occasions. This along with “drink of the sweet” suggest that Nehemiah wanted to see less grieving and more celebrating in response to all that God had revealed to them. Also, everyone should be included in this celebration—even the less fortunate, “send portions to him who had nothing prepared.” Why? Nehemiah answers, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Truly, the Jews had a lot to celebrate. God had brought them out of exile, rebuilt their temple, warded off enemies during the construction of the wall, and had reinvigorated a love for His word. In all of these situations, “the joy of the Lord” was their “strength.” In each and every turn, the weakness of the people that made them vulnerable was overwhelmed by the strength of their God. This applied also to the Jews’ inability to keep the Law. In other words, “it is Yahweh’s joy over his people that is the basis for the hope that they will be saved or protected from His anger” (G. C. I. Wong).

The Levites spread this encouragement to the people following Nehemiah’s initial command, “So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved’…” (8:11). For so long the people had been busy about something: getting home from being away, rebuilding the temple, their homes, their wall, defending their families against famine and multiple enemies, etc. Now, even in what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, the people were busied themselves with their worries over their inability to keep the law. Instead, as the Levites encourage here, the Jews should “be still and know” that God was God (as revealed in His Word) and celebrate that simple truth (see also Psalm 46:10).

Oh that we could learn to be a people that is less concerned about what we can do and who God is, for the latter informs the former.

After this added insight was communicated, “All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them….” (8:12). Finally, after much toil and difficulty, the people are allowed to celebrate. What instigates and informs this celebration—a proper understanding of God reached after the presentation and study of His written word. Although at first the Jews were intimidated when reunited with the Law of God, ultimately, this reunion ends in celebration.

So What?

 This passage indicates that the revelation of God found in His written word carries with it an awesome power to educate, convict, and ultimately inspire. In the presentation of the Law, we see a people who approach God’s revelation with a united reverent awe—the kind of awe that keeps their attention fixed on the Scriptures. Can the way in which you approach the word of God be described in the same way? In the celebration of the Law, we learned that while its standard was too lofty for the Jews to reach (causing grief and unrest), ultimately what is taught in the Scriptures is that God is greater and His strength makes up for the gap between He and His people. This was a cause of celebration!
Does God’s revealed word carry the same capacity for us today? Absolutely! In fact, there is an even greater capacity for inspiration and change in what has been revealed since Nehemiah’s time for we have the entire story. In the spirit of this passage, I invite all of you to stand and listen carefully to what I mean.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-4). He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:10-13).  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17). Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ (Romans 10:17). What does the word about Christ say? For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) there is none righteous, not even one (3:10). But although the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,   in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11). Remember, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.(1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Therefore, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10). For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

For when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:31-37).


Be still and know that He is God! Celebrate what is revealed in His Word! Let it make us a distinct people that is set apart from this world and may we proclaim His Word to this world that desperately needs to hear it! 

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