Nehemiah 8 with Homework

Nehemiah 8 Introduction. Overview: Chapter 1/ God lays deep burden for Nehemiahs people on his heart Chapter 2/ Nehemiah grieves deeply for His people Chapter 3 and 4/ Nehemiah's opposition and spiritual warfare Chapter 5/ Nehemiah has Gods favor Chapter 6/Nehemiah character in face of opposition Chapter 7/ Nehemiah has a heart that knows when God speaks to him Chapter 8/The power of Gods Word on the new city Ezra/priest/some called high priest/contemporary of Nehemiah 12 years before Nehemiah had been with small group of exiles from Babylon and was grieved over their sin of mixed marriages. It was appropriate that Nehemiah call on Ezra to read Gods Word because he had a huge investment in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Festival of booths: / agricultural/ The feast of in gathering On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook" (Lev. 23:40), and "You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt" (Lev. 23:42-43). Constructed and lived in booths 7 days/ symbolized the way family leaved in wilderness under Moses Listened to reading of Gods Word every day After that they would circle temple praying and reciting psalm 118:25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! (Psalm 118:25 NIV) Appropriate that after the labor of building the wall they would celebrate this holiday in all it's fullness. Celebration of all God had shown them and done for them. Time of joy! 1. The power of Gods Word on those that hear it and understand it. It is possible to hear it and not understand it. This is the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:19-23 NIV) Gods spirit was allowing all that came and understood to take it deeply to heart 2. Ezra and Nehemiah knew deep grieving and mourning. There are seasons for everything. The bible says there is a time to mourn and a time to dance. This was a season for rejoicing. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matthew 5:4 NIV) Thankfulness for crops and all God had done and put work aside. Grieve is work. Time not to focus on self but God. 3. God makes ALL things new Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB) Demonstration of true meaning of Gods Law and word . Building of the booths. God wants us to understand Him in newness every day, Glenda Homework Chapter 8 Pray and ask God for insight as you read Nehemiah chapter 8. Write those insights down. What have been the most meaningful things you have learned in Nehemiah so far? What is the importance of God's Word in Chapter 8? What are the key elements of the Festival of Booths? In what ways has the Joy of the Lord been your strength? Glenda