King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Chapters: Nehemiah Chapters 8-10
Message: One Heart In Unity With Christ
Hello My Friend,
Charles Spurgeon said, [How can we but love him when we know that he numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways? Specially is this great truth brought near to our heart, when we recollect how attentive he is, not merely to the temporal interests of his creatures, but to their spiritual concerns…Think not that God sits on high taking no account of thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him.]
To those who’s heart is perfect toward God, are not perfect by a long shot, but they are perfect in Christ, who perfects them as they walk with Him through the learning of God’s Word and applying it to their lives, [1 Corinthians 1:9-10 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 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 seventy years Judah did not have the Word of God, it was actually hidden from them, that was until king Cyrus had given it back after they were allowed to go back to Jerusalem. As we continue in the reading of Nehemiah, the temple has been built, the walls that surrounded Jerusalem were built, and now for the first time in their lifetime, all those who wanted to hear God’s Word gathered together for hear the words that were written in the Law of Moses.
[Nehemiah 8:1-4 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. 2 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. 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 book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.]
[and all that could hear with understanding,] These were people capable of hearing the Law read to them to some advantage, whether they were the right age, could read, or spiritually discerned. In order for any of us to hear God’s Word, we first need to have the Holy Spirit in us, for He is our voice of reason, [1 Corinthians 2:7,10 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.]
[Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood,] There you have it, the very first worship service and preacher of God’s Word. Ezra, was more that a prophet, and although many people have had the Law read to them over the centuries, he would be the first to preach it to a congregation. Ezra, opened the scrolls and read the Scriptures to the congregation, but there were also some people in the crowd helping them understand more clearly what was being read.
[Nehemiah 8:5-8 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: 6 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. 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.]
[they read in the book in the law of God distinctly,] This is a true worship service right here, when the Word of God is read and explained, and when all who hear it accept it in all sincerity, with conviction, praise, and thanksgiving to God. It was probably also translated into the Chaldee language as well since the original scrolls were written in Hebrew and very few Jews understood Hebrew anymore. As Ezra was preaching the people began to feel so much conviction that they began crying, but Ezra responded quite differently than we would think.
[Nehemiah 8:10-13 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. 13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.]
[on the second day were gathered together] The people were eager to hear more from the Word of God and not only hear, but do what was written. When they found out about the Holy Days written in the Law, and that they were near time to observe the Feast of Tabernacles, they encouraged them to do so.
[Nehemiah 8:14,17-18 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: 17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.]
[And there was very great gladness.] There truly is something exciting to see people eager to hear God’s Word and want to know how to follow through with it, and we all need days in which we are reminded of that, which is why Holy Days still exist today. While holidays are to never replace the assembly of the Church on a regular basis they are observed in order to give us a little more time to reflect on what God has done for us as well as encourage others to follow suit, which is what was going on at the temple.
[Nehemiah 9:1-3,5 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them. 2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.]
[separated themselves from all strangers,] A stranger is anyone who is not a saved, born again Christian, and it can even be someone of different denominations. A true soul that has been saved by Christ wants to get in His Word and actually follow it, and that includes separating themselves from worldly Christians. Jesus places us in the world so that we might His light to lead others to Him, not for us to be of them, [John 17:15-17 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.]
The ultimate purpose God had for His people returning to Jerusalem was more than just the restoration of the temple and to rebuild the walls, it was to restore their relationship with Him so they too can see the joy of the LORD is their strength. These were man-made structures, powerless to protect them from their enemies unless they knew God and His Word. Ezra, goes on to give them a history lesson of Israel’s journey from the day that Abraham accepted God’s call to leave his father and go to the land of Canaan.
[Nehemiah 9:7,16-17,20,23 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, 17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. 20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.]
[a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger,] We mess up time and time again and wonder why God is so good to us, and this is why, He is long suffering in that we can come to Him time and time again with repentance and He will forgive us, and even cleanse us, [1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.]
For forty years Israel walked the earth headed for the promised land, during that time they forsook God over and over again, even made their own gods when He would not answer them right away, yet they always had food and water provided for them, their clothes and shoes never even got tattered and worn the entire time. They fussed, complained, doubted, disobeyed, and yet God was right there to help them whenever they cried out to Him. Ezra, goes on to point this out.
[Nehemiah 9:26,28-29 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations. 28 But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies; 29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.]
[yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments,] This is why you will see many opportunities where God will send His faithful to some of the most offensive people, He does not want to see one soul in hell. Obeying all of God’s commandments was not the point of why God gave His Word, we are incapable of going a day without sin, what He wanted was a commitment. Nehemiah, goes on to remind them of God’s continuous mercies on them.
[Nehemiah 9:31-33,36,38 Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. 32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day. 33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly: 36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it: 38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.]
[let not all the trouble seem little before thee,] If we are honest with ourselves, we truly have not gotten what we truly deserve for our because we are all guilty of sinning against God a time or two. Some of us more guilty than others, but then again, is there such as thing? There really is not, even one sin makes us just as guilty as a lifetime of sin. The same rule applies, [James 2:10-11 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.]
[Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us;] If we are honest with ourselves, we truly have not gotten what we truly deserve for our because we are all guilty of sinning against God a time or two. Some of us more guilty than others, but then again, is there such as thing? There really is not, even one sin makes us just as guilty as a lifetime of sin. The same rule applies, [James 2:10-11 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.]
Many of the people stood up that day, gladly choosing to follow the Law, even entering a curse should they break that covenant. In order to make it official their names were added and sealed in a book. The list of names was provided as well as the oath that they took.
[Nehemiah 10:1,28-29,39 Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah, 28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; 29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; 39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.]
[entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law,] This is the curse, which is actually a blessing, all who hear the Gospel of Christ, and understand and accept that He alone is their salvation from their sin, belong to Christ forever. That means that we can no longer live like the world or live in sin, we will suffer greatly, even more than we ever did, [Galatians 3:10-11 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Nehemiah 8:16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the sacrifice You made by giving Your life for me. You shed Your blood so that I did not have to spend eternity in hell. I believe in all that You are and that You alone are the only one who can save me. I entered into the sure covenant, and am sealed by Your blood forever. Lord, I am forever grateful for what You have done for me. Lead me and guide me, fill me with Your mercies and grace. Forgive me for the times I lost sight of what You have done for me. Help me to stay faithful in Your Word and to follow it so that I become a reflection of You and shine Your Light through me. You are the joy of my strength and the only one who can carry me through this life and into the next, for You are my Redeemer, my Saviour. I love You and pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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