How to do this
Read the scripture(s) provided
Answer the questions on your own or in your group
Scripture
Nehemiah 5:1-13
1 All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”
12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month 15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.
16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.
18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
Questions
1. This chapter describes how nominal/cultural Jews who have not been engaging with the truth-filled authority of God’s Word are presented with an opportunity to hear and understand God’s Word for the first time in their lives. There is a dramatic response made to this life-changing opportunity (v6). Today, there is a growing need in our nation for spiritually curious people to engage with the Bible and the gospel of salvation through Jesus more deeply and to find a transforming faith through this deeper engagement. Recent research demonstrates that about 20% of the UK population are in this category (see https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/lumino/). Are you aware of any people in your different social networks who are in this category?
2. The Levites play an important role in this chapter in helping the listeners to understand the text of the scripture texts being read. In the UK today, committed Christians can play a similar role. What might be some next steps for you to help a spiritually curious friend to explore spiritual truth more deeply and find answers to some of their spiritual questions?
3. The Holy Spirit empowers the listeners to understand the truth of what they are hearing and to have the desire to put it into practice (v13-17). There is a vital connection between listening and applying; hearing and obeying. Where is the Holy Spirit challenging you at the moment to put some important truth into practice?
4. This passage refers to the sadness of the people when they realise the depths of their ignorance of God’s instruction and their disobedience towards God (v9). Similarly, when people come to faith in Christ, there are often tears shed for all sorts of reasons, perhaps because of the realisation of the extent of the pain caused by our God-dishonouring lives and also because of the realisation of the extent of God’s sacrifice on our behalf to bring us salvation. Where and how have you seen these tears flow? Why are they important?
5. In v10 Nehemiah says that “the joy of the Lord is your strength”, probably the most famous verse in the whole story of Nehemiah’s life of leadership. When and how have you found this principle to be true? Is this something you need to pray for in your life? As you pray for this, remember that God is ready to hear and answer your desire for His joy to be released in your life.
End in prayer
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