The Most Important Building Project Ever

DAY 152
2-24-10
NEHEMIAH 7-8


Good Morning!

Rebuilding the walls, the gates, and the temple is not as important as rebuilding faith in God and obedience to his word. Nehemiah and Ezra now undertake their most important rebuilding project – the hearts, the minds, the lives, and the faith of the people.

Where does this begin? How do we start the rebuilding of our hearts, minds, lives, and faith? Well, if our text has any lessons in it for us today, it begins with hearing the words of God. Many years later, Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:16). I think it is a beautiful scene we are allowed to see…

1. The people respected the word of God.
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. 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. (Neh 8:5-6)

2. Care was taken so the people could understand the word of God.
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. (Neh 8:8)

3. The people were emotional about the word of God.
All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. (Neh 8:9)

4. The people joyfully celebrated learning the word of God.
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. (Neh 8:12)

The word of God is holy and precious. It must be loved, respected, and understood. What you experience in worship; what you read everyday for your self; and what you are exposed to in many other ways; is supposed to overwhelm you with emotions that show we are the most blessed people in the world to know the words of the living God.

Barry