DBG - June 1 - Nehemiah 8-10

In this chapter Ezra leads in a revival by teaching the Scriptures.

vs. 1-8 – The Water Gate is on the southeast of Jerusalem, and there was an area inside the wall there large enough for the Jews to assemble.  It is the month of Tisri, our September/October.  Ezra reads the words of the Mosaic Law, perhaps the entire Pentateuch.  He and a team of Levites teach the people about the contents of the Law.  There is a great need for such Bible teaching today.

vs. 9-12 – The response of the people is to mourn at their sin and condition.  Nehemiah and Ezra step in an encourage the people to rejoice that they now had heard and understood the Law.

vs. 13-18 – The immediate result of the teaching of Scripture to the people is the realization that the Feast of Tabernacles was only two weeks away on the 15^th.  The people zealously celebrate this feast like no other time since the days of Joshua.  This is interesting in that Joshua’s people would have directly understood the meaning of the feast, which remembered the wilderness journey to the Promised Land.  Here the Jews could not only remember that but also their own journey through the Captivity to their return to the Promised Land.  Note also that in vs. 18 that the Scripture is taught throughout the week.

In this chapter the Jews confess their sins before God as part of the revival.

vs. 1-4 – This is two days after the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles.  The Jews gather in the Temple and mourn and confess their sins.  We note in vs. 3 that this included more reading of the Law. 

vs. 5-38 – This is the longest recorded prayer in the Bible.  It begins in praise in vs. 5-6,  then transitions into recalling God’s providence in the history of Israel in vs. 7-29.  The final section of vs. 30-38 is confession of sin and a call for mercy.  The last verse speaks of a covenant, which will be explained in the following chapter.

In this chapter the leaders of the people enter a covenant to ensure the Jews continued serving God.

vs. 1-27 – In the last verse of the previous chapter a covenant was mentioned.  Its content is given at the end of this chapter, but first those that pledge themselves to keep it are listed.  84 individuals are named.  It begins with Nehemiah the governor, then lists the priests, Levites , and chiefs of the people.

vs. 28-39 – The covenant is made up of seven parts.  First, they would keep the commands of the Law.  Second, that they would not marry women that were not Jewish.  Third, that they would keep the weekly Sabbath.  Fourth, that they would observe the Sabbath year (Exodus 23:10-11).  Fifth, they would give yearly 1/3 shekel (.13 ounces, roughly $10) to finance the work of the Temple, Sixth, that they would supply wood to burn on the altar.  Seventh, that they would pay to finance the work of the priests through the tithe. 

These chapters are some of my favorites.  I am fascinated by the revival that begins by the teaching of Scripture.  In our day there is a woeful lack of knowledge of the what the Bible contains.  Most bemoan this void in our modern society, but the larger issue is in our churches.  Too many pastors fail to properly teach the Scriptures to their congregations.  Every church I have seen that has placed great emphasis on educating its members about the Word of God has seen tremendous spiritual growth.  This is one of the main reasons I took up this project.  The Bible is not just for the preacher, it is for every Christian.

Our hymn today is “Out of the Deep I Call”, written in 1868 by H.W. Baker.  It is prayer of confession that would fit well in the themes of Chapter 9.

Out of the deep I call,
To Thee, O Lord, to Thee,
Before Thy throne of grace I fall;
Be merciful to me.

Out of the deep I cry,
The woeful deep of sin,
Of evil done in days gone by,
Of evil now within.

Out of the deep of fear
And dread of coming shame;
All night till morning watch is near
I plead the precious name.

Lord, there is mercy now,
As ever was, with Thee,
Before Thy throne of grace I bow;
Be merciful to me.