INTRO:

• Chapters 1-6 focuses on God’s work through Nehemiah and the people to rebuild the Jerusalem walls.

• Chapters 7-13 focuses on the work of God in the hearts of the people.

• The purpose of the church is not about the building… it’s about building God’s people.

• Nehemiah was called to restore a community of people whose hearts were given over to Yahweh living in the land… loving and obeying and worshipping the Lord… demonstrating and declaring God’s goodness to the nations around them… waiting expectantly for the promise of the return of the Messiah.

#1) REORGANIZATION (Chapter 7)

Nehemiah 7:4 ESV

The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

Observation #1: Repopulation

• Exiles who had returned over the previous 90 years had settled around Jerusalem but few had made their homes inside Jerusalem.

• If Jerusalem was going to be a city that would radiate the Glory of God, it would need to be filled with people devoted to Him.

Observation #2: ‘Early Birds’

Nehemiah 7:5-6 ESV

Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:

These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.

Observation #3: Roles Reactivated

• At the end of chapter 7, we see that the total of people was 49,697. People came together and gifts were reactivated. (V.73) priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, etc.

#2) GOD’S WORD (Chapter 8)

Observation #1: Hunger

Nehemiah 8:1 ESV

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.

Nehemiah 8:2-3 ESV

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. 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.

The Word of God:

(1) Is The Best Seller Book of All Time

(2) Has Survived Through It All

(3) Has Been Preserved Over Time

(4) Is Supported By Science & Archeology

(5) Has Internal Consistency (2 Peter 1:21)

(6) Is Prophetic

(7) Transforms Lives

Observation #2: Understanding

Nehemiah 8:7b-8 ESV

… the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

• When we understand what we are reading, it will transform us. When you finally understand it, it will have an impression on you. You will have a reaction.

Nehemiah 8:6 ESV

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.

Observation #3: Response

• When you understand everything that God has done for you, it moves you to a humble place of submission & worship. Your submission & worship only increases as you get to know more of God.

Nehemiah 8:9 ESV

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.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For 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.

• We are called to respond to His Word.

Observation #4: ‘Not Today’

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

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.”

• Our sin will not get the final word in our lives. His Grace and Mercy will get the final word.

Observation #5: Dependent

Nehemiah 8:13-14 ESV

On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,

Three Things About The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles

(1) It was a reminder that we needed to depend on Him.

Psalm 121:1 ESV

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

(2) It gave a healthy perspective on what to set their eyes on.

(3) It strengthened their identity as one nation.

CONCLUSION

Observation #6: Obedience

Nehemiah 8:16a ESV

So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves…

• They Heard the Word. They Believed the Word. They Obeyed the Word.

So what can we learn from Nehemiah in these two chapters 7-8?

(1) God is calling us to fill His House, to serve & live in community.

(2) We must be a House in which with passion we Hear | Believe | Obey His Word.

John 16:20 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

John 16:22 ESV

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

• Let God turn your sorrow into His eternal joy.