May 27, 2002
LifeWay Family Bible Series for June 9
FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Honor God by demonstrating joy in his provision
___Nehemiah 8:1-18
___By Barbara Kent
___University Baptist Church, Fort Worth
___What kind of people does God want us to be? As Christians, should we be dour, long-faced and serious? Or should we be joyful, exhibiting to those around us a sense of genuine joy and spiritual fulfillment? The perception of much of the world is knowing and serving the Lord takes away the joy and happiness people long to have. This study from the book of Nehemiah reminds us our faith should never be a burden but rather an opportunity for joy.
___
___Setting the stage for joy
___Ezra the scribe and a group of exiles had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. The temple had been rebuilt and now, under the leadership of Nehemiah, the city's wall had been completed. Life was at last getting back to a more normal pattern. The time had come for a special assembly. On the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, the people assembled and asked that Ezra bring out the Book of the Law of Moses and read it to them.
___Ezra was the priest. He was the spiritual leader. As such, he read aloud the Law to the people. This was more than just a meeting; it was an occasion. The assembly met before the Water Gate (v. 3), which some feel was associated in some way with the temple, but it obviously was not at the temple because there were women and probably children in the group. The day must have been intended as a day of celebration and of joy. It was a day in which all God's people were to share and participate.
___Standing on a high wooden platform erected for the occasion, Ezra read to the assembled group from daybreak until noon, and the people listened attentively to the reading (v. 3). Standing beside him as he read were a group of men who are named but not identified as to their role in the group. As he began to read, Ezra praised the Lord, and the people responded, "Amen! Amen!" and bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground (v. 6). A group of 13 Levites also were on hand to interpret the meaning of the words Ezra was reading.
___An appropriate response to God's word
___At the conclusion of the reading and the interpretation by the Levites, Nehemiah, identified as the governor (v. 9), declared the occasion to be sacred to the Lord and instructed the people to stop their weeping (v. 9). They had been moved deeply by the reading of the Law and responded with great emotion. They had become aware of their sins and wept with sorrow. However, this was not a day to weep. It was a time to celebrate.
___Nehemiah urged the people to respond to the message from the Lord with joy and celebration rather than with weeping. The day was sacred to the Lord and a day of joy, for the Lord was their strength (v. 10). This was to be a time to celebrate. Go, he said, and enjoy the best you have to eat. Share it with those who have nothing prepared (v. 10).
___The people responded to Nehemiah's words and to the Levites' who had interpreted the words of the Law and reaffirmed what Nehemiah had told them. They now understood God's message to them in the Law and could freely celebrate with great joy (v. 12).
___ Celebrating in joy
___While the Israelites had lived in exile in Babylon, they had forgotten the words of the Law. Those born in exile probably had never known God's word to them. Now that they had heard the wonderful words read, they were ready to hear more. Further study of the Law continued.
___On the second day of the seventh month, the heads of all the families, the priests and the Levites gathered around Ezra to learn more. They discovered instructions were in the Law for the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. It had not been celebrated since the time of Joshua (v. 17). This feast was to be a time of great joy and celebration.
___They responded by doing all the Law commanded. Everyone who had returned from exile made all the preparations for the joyous celebration. They built booths (or tabernacles) and lived in them as directed (vv. 13-15). Their joy was great! For seven days they celebrated. On the eighth day, they assembled again as they had done on the first day of the month (v. 18).
___God's word to us
___God's word does bring conviction of sin, but it should also bring joy to believers. As the Israelites discovered the joy God intended for them by reading and understanding his word, so should we. Joy should not be determined by our circumstances, but by the knowledge of the presence of God with us. We honor God and give evidence of his presence in our lives as we demonstrate joy.
___Questions for discussion
___
___
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook
