Readings:
Sermon:
Today I thought we might look at the Old Testament passage with which you may be less familiar. We are looking at some verses from the 8th chapter of the book of Nehemiah Here we see the priest Ezra reading to the people from the Word of God-for them that meant the Books of Moses - the Law.
God's people had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar and many of them had been taken into exile in Babylon. After many years some of them began to return to Israel and Jerusalem in particular to reconnect with the few who had remained there.
One of their leaders, Nehemiah was a man of great vision and great faith and also a man of great courage. In spite of terrible opposition he led the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple; their place of worship. During this time they had rediscovered the sacred scrolls that contained the writings of Moses.
For them, at this time it was the Word of God…it was what God had to say to them
Now here we see the completion of the building a degree of restoration for God’s people; we see them coming together on a particular day to hear Ezra the priest read God’s Word to them.
First in verses 1-3 we learn that the people had come together and Ezra read the books of the Law aloud from daybreak until noon. Astonishing!
But the people listened because they wanted to hear what God had to say to them.
It would be good to think that we too are hungry to hear God’s word and of course we have so much more to hear. We have the New Testament and so much greater revelation on God’s truth.
Secondly in verses 5-6 we see that in response to what they had heard, Ezra led the people in a marvellous praise and worship session which they all joined in with great enthusiasm. Why? Because in hearing God’s word we begin to appreciate exactly who God is and how great is His love for us. From Romans 10 we learn that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Thirdly. Ezra and the priests had been explaining and expounding what had been read and it had caused some sorrow and weeping. Why? No doubt because God’s word often reveals to us where we have fallen short of His standards.
But in spite of that Ezra instructs God’s people to rejoice and to be happy; in fact to go and have a great big party. Because Gods word has good things for us to enjoy; there is peace and forgiveness for those who believe and great joy.
What is your attitude to the Bible? Do you love to listen to it?
We as a nation, have perhaps turned our backs on the Bible because it doesn’t always say that which is comfortable to hear. But it is good and true and Jesus himself said that if one day everything else should pass away the Word of the Lord would remain forever.