Radio Transcript

Broadcast Date – December 9, 2001 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

In Romans 15:4, the apostle Paul wrote: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Those persons who look at the Old Testament as merely "interesting reading" deprive themselves of a great blessing. The Old Testament teaches numerous lessons that can be helpful in living the Christian life today. One such example can be found in Nehemiah 8:1-12.

First, notice the assembly in verses one and two: "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month."

Friends, did you notice how the people gathered together? The people gathered as one man, indicating they possessed an attitude and atmosphere of unity. Today, God desires that his people display that same unity. Listen to the words of Paul, written to the church at Corinth and recorded for us in I Corinthians 3:9: "For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building." Also notice I Corinthians 1:10-11: "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you."

Yes friends, God wants his people to be united. Unfortunately, many people misunderstand the Bible’s teaching concerning unity. Denominations often reach out to other denominations, proclaiming their desire for unity. But friends, Paul was not writing about unity among denominations! In fact, denominations did not even exist at the time Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Denominations are all products of men and came much later. Paul was stressing the need for unity in Christ’s church, not a denomination.

Many people want to ignore their doctrinal differences, compromise the truth, and thus seek unity at all costs. But how can we have the unity God desires? Notice Paul’s words, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing." When man discards his own creeds and opinions and instead chooses to strictly adhere to the plain teachings found in God’s Word, unity will be possible.

Another point concerning the assembly, the people wanted Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses. These people had a desire to know God’s Word. Imagine a dog running on a hot summer day. Now can you see the dog, hot and tired after his exercise, sitting with his tongue hanging out, panting for water because of his thirst? Friends, we ought to have that same thirst, only for God’s Word. Notice the following: "I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments" (Psalm 119:131). Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness" (Matthew 5:6). Friends, do you have a hunger for God’s Word? Do you seek out opportunities to hear God’s Word? Do you study God’s Word regularly? Do you read His Word often? Only God’s word, nothing else, can satisfy man’s spiritual needs.

Another point concerning the assembly is that it consisted of men, women, and children. Many people think that, because of a lack of understanding on the part of the children, they need to be placed in some type of "children’s church" or "children’s worship service." Friends, let’s don’t sell our children short! Children can understand more than we often give them credit for! Children need to be in the same assembly as everyone else. A child needs the experience and memories of his parents, brothers, and sisters all coming together to worship as a family.

Friends, the second point we notice from Nehemiah is the people’s attention. Notice these words from Nehemiah 8:3: "And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the books of the law." The people in Nehemiah’s day were attentive to what they heard, indicating they concentrated on what was being said. They listened carefully. Reading the Bible will be of no benefit to us unless we pay attention to what we read.

Notice what the people were paying attention to – God’s Word! Many people today are led astray because they pay attention to the words of men. They pay attention to the philosophies of men. They pay attention to the opinions of men. But they fail to pay attention to the simple Word of God.

Also, our text from Nehemiah teaches us that the Bible can be understood! Many people fail to study the Bible because they believe they are incapable of understanding what it teaches. But friends, think for a moment. What kind of god would give us a Bible that could not be understood by the common man? An uncaring god! An unloving god! But our God is not unloving or uncaring. He wants us to understand his will for us! God has given us a book that can be understood by the common man. Notice Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus, recorded in Ephesians 3:1-4: "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in a few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)".

Don’t merely rely on others to tell you what the Bible teaches. Go to the Bible and check it out for yourself. Notice how Luke contrasted the Bereans with those in Thessalonica: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11).

Friends, a third point we notice from our text in Nehemiah is the people’s attitude. Notice verses five and six from Nehemiah, chapter eight: "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground." Notice the people stood when the book was read. This was a sign of their respect for God’s Word.

Further, Ezra blessed the Lord. The word "blessed" can have several meanings, depending upon the way it is used. We often speak of our blessings, those physical, material things God has provided for us. Sometimes we speak of our spiritual blessings, as in Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Sometimes the word "bless" can mean to give thanks. Notice the following from Matthew 26:26: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body." But what was involved in Jesus blessing the bread? Simply this, Jesus gave thanks for the bread. Notice verse 27: "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it."

However, the word "blessed" as used in our text from Nehemiah, means "to speak well of or to praise." Notice the following from Psalm 119:12: "Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes."

Further, when the word was read, the people answered, "Amen" meaning, "let it be done" or "let it be true." Friends, these people were in agreement with God’s word. Sadly, many today choose to argue with what they read in the scriptures. When people are taught what the Bible teaches concerning marriage, they often want to argue with God. When people are taught what they must do to be saved from their sins, they often want to argue with God. When people are taught that denominationalism is a sin, they often want to argue with God. Friends, this type of attitude ought not exist!

Our last point from our text is the people’s awareness of their sins. "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" (Nehemiah 8:8-9). The people were mourning because they had been convicted of their sins. They had neglected God’s restrictions concerning marriage (Deuteronomy 7:1-6). They had failed to keep the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13). They had forsaken God’s house (Nehemiah 10).

When we hear God’s word, we too ought to be convicted of our sins and mourn. The apostle Paul wrote: "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (II Corinthians 7:10).

But same word of God that causes us to mourn can also bring us joy. When we repent of our sins and make the necessary corrections, we can experience the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12). The joy of forgiveness (Acts 3:19). The joy of the instruction we receive from the word of God (II Timothy 3:16-17). The joy of comfort we receive from the word of God (I Thessalonians 4:18).

What can we learn from Nehemiah? We can learn that God expects us to assemble to hear His word, to give our attention to His word, to have the proper attitude toward His word, and to be aware of the changes His word demands of us.

I thank you for your attention and hope you can be back next week.