Nehemiah 8:1-18 How to Study the Bible. Eusebius heard of one whose eyes were burned, but could recite the Scriptures from memory.

Nehemiah 8:1-18

How to Study the Bible


Eusebius heard of one whose eyes were burned, but could recite the Scriptures from memory.



Beza could repeat all of Paul’s Epistles at age 80.



Beza could repeat all of Paul’s Epistles at age 80.Augustine said that after his conversion he ceased to

cherish Cicero & that the Scriptures became his pure delight.


Unfortunately, we live in an age where Bible study is almost a thing of the past.


Unfortunately, we live in an age where Bible study is almost a thing of the past.93% of Americans own a Bible, but half have never read it.


Unfortunately, we live in an age where Bible study is almost a thing of the past.93% of Americans own a Bible, but half have never read it.Only 18% of those claiming to be Christians read the Scriptures

daily.


We need to be a people “of the Book.”


In order to be a “people of the Book,” we need to know how to study the Book.


In order to be a “people of the Book,” we need to know how to study the Book.

When Ezra reads the Law to the people, we have a prime example of how to study Scripture.


Nehemiah 8:1-18


PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD SCRIPTUREvv 1-5


“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. 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. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood” (vv 1-5, ESV).


The Jews were eager to hear Scripture.


The Jews were eager to hear Scripture.They gathered around Ezra to hear the Law.



This occurred at the Feast of Booths when the Law was to be read (Deut 31:10-11).




Thus, the people are asking Ezra to do what God has commanded.




Thus, the people are asking Ezra to do what God has commanded.But, these Jews could have ignored what God had said.


All the people were there.


All the people were there: “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” (v 2, ESV).


All the people were there: “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” (v 2, ESV).Everyone who could understand came to this assembly.


All the people were there: “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” (v 2, ESV).Everyone who could understand came to this assembly.We struggle with those who aren’t interested in hearing the Word

of God.


The people stood & listened to the Law being read for about 6 hours.


The people stood & listened to the Law being read for about 6 hours.“From morning until midday” would have been approximately 6

hours.


The people stood & listened to the Law being read for about 6 hours.“From morning until midday” would have been approximately 6

hours.How many of us would want to hear Scripture for 6 straight hours?


Let us to be eager to hear the Word of God!


The ears of the people were attentive to the Law.


The ears of the people were attentive to the Law.We also need to be attentive to the Word of God.


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.Scripture can help us overcome temptation.


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.Scripture can help us overcome temptation: “I have stored up your

word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:11, ESV).


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11).Scripture has the power to convict us of sin.


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11).Scripture has the power to convict us of sin: “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” (Heb 4:12, ESV).


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11).Scripture has the power to convict us of sin: (Heb 4:12).Scripture will judge us at the law day.


What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11).Scripture has the power to convict us of sin: (Heb 4:12).Scripture will judge us at the law day: “The one who rejects me

and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (Jn 12:48, ESV).


We need to be reverent when Scripture is proclaimed.


We need to be reverent when Scripture is proclaimed.When Ezra opened the Law, all the people stood.


We need to be reverent when Scripture is proclaimed.When Ezra opened the Law, all the people stood.Standing is a sign of great respect.


We need to be respectful when Scripture is proclaimed.


How is your attitude toward Scripture?


Proper Preaching of Scripturevv 7-8


“Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, 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” (vv 7-8, ESV).


Rabbinic tradition says that these men translated the Law from Hebrew to the Aramaic the people would have spoken.


Rabbinic tradition says that these men translated the Law from Hebrew to the Aramaic the people would have spoken.That could very well be.


Rabbinic tradition says that these men translated the Law from Hebrew to the Aramaic the people would have spoken.That could very well be.What’s obvious is that the people had trouble understanding the

Law & these men helped them understand it.


Parts of Scripture are difficult to understand.


Parts of Scripture are difficult to understand.Peter about Paul’s writings: “There are some things in

them that are hard to understand” (2 Pt 3:16, ESV).


Proper preaching helps people understand Scripture.


These men read distinctly from the Law of God.


These men read distinctly from the Law of God.They didn’t tell a bunch of stories, but they read from the Law.


These men read distinctly from the Law of God.They didn’t tell a bunch of stories, but they read from the Law.Solid preaching is always based upon the Word of God.



Paul tells Timothy, “Preach the word” (2 Tm 4:2, ESV).



Paul tells Timothy, “Preach the word” (2 Tm 4:2, ESV).Scripture must be the basis of what is preached.


Proper Response to Scripturevv 9-18


“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. 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.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.


“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, and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, ‘Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.’ So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule” (vv 9-18, ESV).


The people wept when they heard the words of the Law.


The people wept when they heard the words of the Law.They understood that they weren’t what God wanted them to be &

they wept.



they wept.People who have sinned against God have often wept.




Josiah wept when he heard the words of the Law (2 Ki 22:19).




Josiah wept when he heard the words of the Law (2 Ki 22:19).Peter wept after he denied the Lord (Mk 14:72).


When was the last time we wept that we weren’t what God expected us to be?


The people obeyed what they heard from the Law.


The people obeyed what they heard from the Law.When they realized that they were to dwell in booths during the

Feast, they did so.



Feast, they did so.We need to seek to obey God, too.




“This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deut. 26:16, ESV).




Deut. 26:16.“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom

of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mt. 7:21, ESV).



Is God’s slightest wish a command to us?


How will you respond to the preaching of Scripture?

Nehemiah 8:1-18 How to Study the Bible. Eusebius heard of one whose eyes were burned, but could recite the Scriptures from memory.

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