His Work, His Way, For His Glory: The Story of Nehemiah
Certain Words
Nehemiah 8
Former Secretary of Labor, Raymond Donovan, wrote a book about his tenure as a member of President Ronald Reagan’s cabinet. In it he tells a story about his first flight aboard Air Force One. He was seated in the cabin just behind the president and was called on the intercom to come forward and have lunch with him. Just as he came through the door between the compartments the red telephone next to the president rang—not the white telephone, but the red one.
Donovan said, “I just froze there, halfway between the cabins, 30,000 feet in space. I was part of history in the making. The red telephone was ringing and I stood, transfixed. I couldn’t move. I watched the president pick up the phone. He said, ‘Uh huh…mmm, hmm…right…Well, what are my options?’”
And Donovan said, “I could hardly breathe.”
“Right…alright then…” said the president, “I’ll have the iced tea.”
What is it about certain words that causes people to forget about everything else, stop what they’re doing, and give those words their undivided attention? I submit to you that it is authority. For Raymond Donovan it’s the authority of someone whose words could alter the course of a nation or mobilize armies in a matter of seconds.
This morning, we are going to be looking at a story that describes an entire nation’s response to certain words and how it affected their perspectives, attitudes, and behavior.
In our study of the book of Nehemiah, we have come to a place where, under Nehemiah’s superb leadership and through the diligence and vigilance of the people of Israel, construction of the wall around Jerusalem had been completed. It was a monumental task accomplished in the crucible of relentless opposition from Israel’s enemies, and it bound the community tighter than it had been for generations.
Because of their extraordinary work, Jerusalem is now secure, its inhabitants no longer vulnerable to hostile incursions from its neighbors and blindsided attacks from foreign powers. It was cause for celebration. But how do you celebrate such an enormous and successful achievement? We are told in Nehemiah 8, verse 1, And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.
The phrase, “all the people gathered as one man,” is not merely a reference to the fact that the entire population came together for this event, but that they shared a collective sense of unity and purpose. And, as a community, they chose to celebrate the construction of Jerusalem’s wall by listening to God’s Word. And I would suggest to you that the reason they did this is because they knew that ultimately God’s hand was behind this great accomplishment.
He had sent Nehemiah to them, he had provided the resources to build the wall, he had thwarted the devious and destructive plans of their enemies, he had relieved their fears, and he had given them the strength, energy, and endurance they needed to complete the task. They had witnessed Yahweh’s fingerprints all over this project from start to finish, and it had endeared them to him. And the result was that not only had they been physically secured; they had been spiritually revived. And it compelled them to want to get to know their God like never before. And what better way to get to know him than to read the Book he himself had authored?
Notice, it was not Ezra or Nehemiah who suggested that they gather to read the Scriptures. The people themselves initiated this. “They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses…”
So, verses 2-6, 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, (and several other priests) Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
You might have noticed that what happened in this corporate gathering was not exactly like our gatherings on Sunday mornings. Ezra the priest, the most influential spiritual leader of Israel at this time, did not read and then explain a short passage of Scripture like we typically do. Early in the morning, in a sizeable square near a familiar gate, he climbed onto a makeshift platform built for the occasion, opened a massive handwritten scroll in the presence of all the people, and began to read the words contained therein—words typically referred to as the Law of God or the Pentateuch, which consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. And presumably beginning in Genesis he read a major portion of this scroll for about six hours.
Remarkably, we are told that “the ears of all the people were attentive” to what was being read, men, women, and all those who could understand (8:3), which would include children. In other words, no one was bored…for six hours. No one was restless or fidgety…for six hours. Everyone was focused on the words coming out of Ezra’s mouth, evidenced by the fact that as the book was opened, they spontaneously stood on their feet (8:5) and stayed standing. And as the words of God were being read, they spontaneously lifted their hands and bowed their heads with their faces to the ground (8:6).
Why? Same reason Raymond Donovan stopped dead in his tracks on Air Force One when he saw the president talking on the red telephone. Authority. These were not just ordinary words from an ordinary book. These were the very words of God, and the people of Israel recognized God’s authorship and God’s authority. These were the words of Someone who is the essence of truth and righteousness; Someone who, intrinsically, has the power to bless and to curse, to give life and to take life.
I submit to you that the people were attentive and enlivened and demonstratively worshipful as Ezra read the Law of God because they knew they were hearing God’s voice, and it impacted them to the very core of their beings. We’ll see more of that in a bit.
But, first, notice what was happening at intervals during Ezra’s recitation of the Law. Verses 7-8. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, (and several other Levites) Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Keep in mind that most of the people in this audience had recently returned from captivity in Babylon and Persia where they had spent their entire lives. They had grown up in a different culture where people spoke a different language and had different customs, and in order to thrive they had to learn and adapt. Even if they did retain some of their Jewish customs and spoke the Hebrew language, they were likely somewhat diluted or different from that which their grandparents had spoken and practiced. What is more, most had little exposure to the Law of God.
The point is, it’s likely that the language and the content of the Pentateuch was unfamiliar to much of this audience. Some of them, no doubt, were hearing it for the first time. Thus, it was necessary for the Levites, the scholars of Scripture, to help the people understand what was being read by overcoming some of the language barriers and cultural barriers and historical and even geographical barriers.
So, we are told in verses 7 and 8 that during the course of reading the Law of God, when Ezra came to a part that was confusing or unclear, he would stop and allow these Levites to explain or clarify the meaning of the text so they could understand what was being read.
By the way, Nehemiah 8:8 is a definition of expository preaching and teaching. It is reading from the text of Scripture, making it clear (or “translating” the text), and giving the sense (or the “meaning”) so that the people could understand it. Exposition is the process by which a Bible teacher exposes and then explains the text of Scripture in order to ensure that the audience knows precisely what God has said. Expository preaching and teaching never originates in the mind of the speaker, but in the words on the page of Scripture. It always begins with the text, which is what differentiates it from other kinds of rhetoric or formal speech.
But don’t forget, the outcome of this explanation is understanding. Incidentally, both the words explanation and understanding come from the same Hebrew word (bin), and the root of this word occurs six times in chapter 8, emphasizing the importance of the Levites role of facilitating comprehension of the Word of God to the people of God (Kuruvilla). And, apparently, the Levites did a very good job of this, evidenced by the people’s reaction.
Look at verse 9. 9 And 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 wept as they heard the words of the Law.
Those who were leading this gathering could clearly witness the response of the people of Israel as they heard and understood the words of God. They could certainly testify to their attentiveness, tender-heartedness, and reverence. They saw evidence of just how profoundly the words of God had impacted them. But I don’t think Ezra and Nehemiah expected to see the people weeping. And not just some of them… all of them.
Which raises the obvious question, why were they weeping? We know from the text that they were mourning and grieving. Why?
I wonder if it was because in the process of being introduced to or reminded of the absolute holiness and righteousness of Yahweh their own sin-fulness was magnified. I wonder if, as they heard the Scriptures describe their stiff-necked, rebellious, and faithless ancestors, they could make a comparison to themselves and confess that they, too, shared those wicked traits. I’m pretty sure they wept because they saw God for who he was and themselves for who they were and felt shame and remorse.
That’s not a bad thing, but I find it interesting that Ezra and Nehemiah insisted that this was not an appropriate time to express those negative emotions. Instead, they commanded them to celebrate. Look again at verse 10. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
In other words, “This is a day for jubilation and celebration, not sorrow and sadness! This is a day in which we ought to throw the choicest cuts of meat on the grill and open up our best bottles of wine and have a sumptuous feast together. Yes, some of you are realizing, perhaps for the first time, just how awesome this God of ours is, and just how weak and sinful we are. But he is pleased with us today, so let’s bask in the warmth of his pleasure!”
And they did just that. Verses 11-12. 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
After spending six hours from early morning until midday hearing the Word of God being read and explained, the people of Israel spent the rest of the day feasting and celebrating. And we are told that there was great rejoicing. Why? Because they had understood the words that had been declared to them. It was the revelation of God and his will that made them so very happy!
And the festivities didn’t stop at the end of the day. These people were just getting started. We are told in subsequent verses that the very next day they continued to study the Law of God, and in so doing, came upon a portion of the Law that instructed the community of Israel how and when to celebrate one of the major festivals that God had prescribed—the Feast of Booths. It just so happened that God had prescribed them to celebrate the Feast of Booths during the very month they were now gathered. So, they immediately put into practice the words that they read and studied, and for the next seven days celebrated the Feast of Booths according to what was written in the Law. And on each of those days, Ezra continued to read the Law of God in their presence, and it continued to make a huge impact on all who heard and understood it.
This is a story about the impact of certain words. It tells us that those who truly hear and understand God’s words can be profoundly, permanently, and demonstratively impacted. It happened to all the people of Israel who gathered on this occasion. It has happened on countless occasions before and since. And it still happens. Because the word of God is inherently powerful. I’m not talking about the printed words on a page as though if you touch or hold the Bible you feel a surge of power. No, those words contain a spiritually dynamic component that acts as a catalyst when it is accompanied by the work of the Holy Spirit and when it comes into contact with a receptive, illumined mind and heart. A catalyst is something that initiates or accelerates a reaction that can create something extraordinary and altogether different than what was there before. And that’s what happens when there is a convergence of the Word, the Spirit, and a receptive mind and heart.
Listen to what the writer of Hebrews said: “…The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (4:12). I would suggest that this is why the people of Israel were weeping. The word of God was acting as a sword.
Listen to what Peter says in his first letter: 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you (1 Peter 1:23-25).
Peter says that it is the eternal word of God that causes us to be born again, to be made into a new creature, to be transformed from a sinner to a saint, from an enemy of God to a friend of God, from a child of Satan to a child of God.
And listen to what Paul said in Romans: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (10:17). The Word of God produces faith, and it is faith that saves us and gives us eternal life.
Again, the Word of God is powerful, and the reason for this, quite simply, is because they are God’s words. And no other words, not even the words of the president of the United States, come close to their degree of power and authority.
But keep in mind that listening to God’s words apart from the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit and a receptive mind and heart will not activate the power of God in the life of a human being. It will have an effect in the spiritual realm with angels and demons. On more than one occasion I’ve heard demons shriek with terror as I’ve read the Word of God in their presence. But I’ve also seen people respond to Scripture with stone-hearted boredom and apathy. Why? Their spiritual eyes have not been opened by the Holy Spirit and their hearts are hard.
So, what lessons can we learn from Nehemiah 8 that apply to us? I’m going to suggest three things: First, when we read or hear the words of God being read and properly explained, consciously recognize that they are God’s very words. Remind yourself, “I’m listening to God speak, not the pastor, not even the human author of Scripture. These are God’s words!”
Second, when you read or hear the words of God being read and explained, ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding. I cannot emphasize enough the role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual illumination. Apart from his assistance we may understand some of what God is saying in his Word, but it is the Spirit who opens our spiritual eyes to see and understand the deep, profound truths of Scripture. (Ill. of Lannie and Heidi)
Then, finally, when you hear the words of God being read and explained, be sure the one doing so is explaining the actual text of Scripture and not espousing his/her own ideas or opinions. Spiritual power never comes from human ideas or opinions, no matter how impressive they sound or how eloquently they are expressed. Power comes from the text of Scripture, and spiritually powerful and transformational teaching is simply an explanation and application of that text. Be discerning. Be wary of preachers and teachers who read a verse or two and then say a bunch of things that don’t take you back into the text.
Paul said to the Thessalonian believers, verse 2:13, “…We also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” And I would submit to you that the single most important reason that Christianity was successful in Thessalonica is stated in this verse. The people recognized the Source of the word that was spoken to them. They recognized that Paul’s message did not originate from human reasoning or reflection; it was not devised by men who wanted to express their opinions or ideas about God. That message was from God himself. And when the Thessalonians heard Paul proclaim it, they recognized that he was relaying God’s word.
Certain Words
Nehemiah 8
Main Idea: Those who truly hear and understand the words of God can be profoundly, permanently, demonstratively impacted.
Gathering to hear God’s Word (1-2)
Initiated by the congregation
A collective sense of unity and purpose
Exposition of God’s Word (3-12)
The role of Ezra and the Bible experts
They read the Scriptures
They interpreted the words
They explained the meaning
They corrected and directed the people’s response
The response of the people
They stood
They were attentive
They worshiped
They wept
They celebrated
The Impact of God’s Word (13-18)
A craving for more
A commitment to apply
Application: When you hear the Scriptures read and explained:
- Consciously recognize they are _______ very words.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to give you ____________.
- Be sure the preacher/teacher is explaining the _____ of Scripture and not espousing his own _______.