RETURN TO GOD S WORD

Transcription

1 SESSION 10 RETURN TO GOD S WORD 126 SeSSion 10

2 GET INTO THE STUDY The Point God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (see p. 126; PSG, p. 124). The Bible Meets Life Ninety percent of Christians have a desire to please Jesus, yet only half that number (45 percent) read the Bible more than once a week. What s the connection? Jesus said if we love Him, we will obey His commands (John 14:15). He has shown us how to obey and please Him through the Bible. Our look at an event in the life of Ezra shows us the important role the Bible plays in a sustained, close walk with God. The Passage Nehemiah 8:1-8 The Setting The work of rebuilding the fortification wall around Jerusalem went surprisingly quickly 52 days (Neh. 6:15). But Nehemiah s work in Jerusalem did not end with the completion of the wall. For at least 12 years he served as governor of Judah (5:14). At some point following the restoration of the wall and while Nehemiah was governor, he and Ezra led the people in a covenant renewal. DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 124): When has following directions taken you someplace unexpected? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 125). Unfold a road map as you acknowledge that sometimes people disagree on the best way to get somewhere. Have someone try to fold the map again as you suggest the hardest part about getting to your destination may be folding the map after you get there. SAY: Maps go out of date. New roads show up. Old roads go away. We can still run out of gas and get lost. GUIDE: Stress the directions we get from God s Word never fail us. Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 125): God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. GUIDE: We discover from Nehemiah that Scripture guides us and fuels spiritual renewal. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF AUGUST 9 127

3 THE POINT God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. STUDY THE BIBLE Nehemiah 8:1-3 GUIDE: Use the information from the Bible commentary 1 to help set the stage for this session. 10 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read Nehemiah 8:1-3. GUIDE: Call attention to the numbered statements on PSG page 128. Stress that we see two primary things pictured about the people s attitude toward God s Word: 1. They were dedicated to listening to the Word of God. The people listened to Ezra and others read and explain the Word of God from early in the morning until midday for six hours! Nehemiah 8:1-3 1 all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had given Israel. 2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. KEY WORDS: Water Gate (v. 1) The gate in the wall of Jerusalem leading to the Gihon Spring. It was not the same as the Water Gate in Herod s temple, which did not exist at this time. Since this spring provided the main water source outside the wall, it was a gathering point for the community. Be attentive to God s Word. 1 In the previous session we were introduced to Nehemiah. A Jew who served the king of Persia, Nehemiah received a disturbing report from Judah (Neh. 1:1-4). The Jews were experiencing attacks by their enemies, but they had no wall to protect them. Nehemiah requested and received permission from the king to return to Jerusalem, along with the king s provision to have a successful journey (2:7-8). Nehemiah not only returned to Jerusalem, but he also organized a rebuilding project that allowed the people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem in only 52 days (6:15) something they had been unable to do in over 50 years. This forms the background of a great event in Nehemiah 8 when the people gathered together to hear the public reading of the Scriptures. 128 SeSSion 10

4 Verse 1. The people completed the wall on the 25 th day of the sixth month on the Jewish calendar (v. 15); the events of Nehemiah 8 occur on the first day of the seventh month. As soon as their borders were secure, they had the time and energy to focus on spiritual awakening. As long as threats surrounded them, their attention was divided; now, having secured the borders of the city and settled in their own towns, and buoyed by the confidence of completing the building project, the people focused their attention on the more important matter of spiritual renewal and reading God s Word. The people gathered at the square in front of the Water Gate. This gate in the wall, leading to the Gihon Spring, was a popular point in community life. But the people did not gather there merely to socialize. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses to read to the crowd. Nehemiah emphasized the desire among all the people to hear the Word of God. The people took the initiative. They called for the reading of the Word of God. Verse 2. The first day of the seventh month was the New Year s Day of the Jewish civil calendar. It included the celebration of the Feast of Trumpets with a solemn assembly of both men and women as they ceased from their labor to focus on the coming year. In years past the people may not have observed this holy day as they should because they feared the uncompleted wall made them vulnerable to their enemies. Now with the wall intact, they gathered to hear the Word of God. Ezra, a descendant of Aaron who was sent to Jerusalem by King Artaxerxes of Persia in 458 B.C., was the priest chosen to read. Verse 3. Ezra read the book of the law to the assembly. Though this may refer only to the legal material in Moses writings, it probably referred to the entire Pentateuch (Genesis Deuteronomy). The people had neglected reading the Scriptures through captivity, trials, and apathy. They needed to hear the whole counsel of God. The crowd included the men, the women, and those who could understand. Though men regularly should have heard the Word of God, this had not been the case among the exiles who had returned. The women participated in some special observances on solemn occasions (Deut. 31:12; Josh. 8:35; 2 Kings 23:2). The phrase who could understand could have applied to all the children who were old enough to comprehend God s Word. 2. They were attentive to the Word of God. To be attentive means to concentrate, be observant, and be focused. Their hearts and minds were not fixed on simply listening to the words, but on retaining the truth from the law being read and explained to them. GUIDE: Note how easy it can be to get distracted. Invite volunteers to name some things that distract us as we pray, read the Bible, or worship. Record responses. (ENHANCEMENT: Use Pack Item 8: Distractions to help trigger some responses. Ask how we may have fallen prey to any of the distractions pictured.) DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 128): How do our circumstances impact the way we approach the Bible? (Alternate: How has your relationship with the Bible changed over time?) 129

5 THE POINT God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. TRANSITION: Emphasize that when we interact with God s Word, we must discipline ourselves to avoid interruptions and put away distractions. Encourage the group to not only be attentive to Scripture, but to also respond to God s Word with worship and obedience. STUDY THE BIBLE Nehemiah 8: minutes READ: Read verses 4-6. (OPTION: In view of the people standing in honor of Scripture in verse 5, consider asking the group to stand as you read this passage. When you finish reading, direct the group to be seated.) GUIDE: Acknowledge that many seniors will remember a time when some churches had a tradition for the congregation to stand when the Bible was read. Note the honor the people showed God s Word in verse 5. Nehemiah 8:4-6 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, Amen, Amen! Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. KEY WORD: Amen (v. 6) An expression of support or confirmation, coming from the verb that means to confirm, to support, to uphold. As a congregational response, the word was a response to the truthfulness of a spoken prayer, praise, or teaching. Respond to God s Word with worship and obedience. Reading the Word of God alone will not sustain spiritual restoration. Many people read the Bible without responding properly to it with worship and obedience. At the gathering initiated by the people and led by Ezra, the Jewish people responded properly to the reading of the Scriptures. Verse 4. The people had made preparations for the reading of God s Word. They had built a high wooden platform from which Ezra would read the Scriptures. The Hebrew word usually indicates a tower of some kind; it was big enough to hold 13 men in addition to Ezra. The platform helped the 130 SeSSion 10

6 people to see Ezra as well as to hear him. The men standing with Ezra may have been influential lay leaders in the community but since their roles were not identified, we do not know for certain. This desire for the Word of God began with the lay leaders, and they surely were included in the process. Verse 5. Though the English translation indicates that Ezra opened the book, it meant that he unrolled the scroll. The codex, or book form, was not developed until the time of early Christians in the first three centuries A.D. This further indicates that Ezra was not picking portions of the Scriptures to read, but was systematically reading all the Scriptures to the people who were starving to hear it. Ezra opened the scroll in full view of all the people. The visual image of the priest of God reading the Word of God was important to the people. They had elevated the platform for visual and auditory reasons, but it also was symbolic of their respect for the Scriptures. The people were not taking this as some casual reading of the Scriptures for the sake of acquiring more knowledge. They were reorienting their lives to the truths they heard from God. Much later, Paul would say, Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching (1 Tim. 4:13). He wrote his letters, which became New Testament Scripture, with the intention that they would be read to the intended churches. This passage in Ezra should convict us to give more attention to the public reading of God s Word in our worship gatherings. Are we more interested in hearing the Word or hearing comments about the Word? As Ezra opened the scroll, all the people stood up. The act of standing for the reading of the Word of God was a sign of great respect. In Nehemiah 9:3 the people again were said to stand for the reading of God s Word. In Luke 4:16 Jesus stood to read from the scroll of Isaiah, but He sat down when He finished reading and began to explain the passage (Luke 4:20). This would have reflected the practices of the rabbis in Jesus day. However, on other occasions the people sat as the Scripture was read. In Jeremiah 36:15, Baruch read the scroll to the crowd while sitting. While the Bible gives no hard and fast rules about whether people should stand or sit, the actions of the crowd to Ezra s reading of the Scriptures undoubtedly indicated a profound respect for what the people were hearing. Invite volunteers to identify in the passage various responses of people to God s Word. See verses 5-6. Note that we should not use this passage to become legalistic about methods of worship. Lifted hands, bowing down, and so on was how the Jews declared their worship and submission to the authority of God s Word. We may choose to express our worship in similar ways or choose to honor God in other ways, remembering that it is the attitude of the heart in worship, not the position of the body, that matters most to God. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 130): What s the connection between reading the Bible and worshiping God? (Alternate: What prevents us from responding more meaningfully and more consistently to God s Word?) 131

7 THE POINT God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. GUIDE: Hold up the map you used at the beginning of the session as you comment that the Bible is the map that keeps us on the path of renewal and revival. When we stray off on our own, Scripture holds us accountable and shows us the way back. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 131): When have you recently been affected or convicted by your study of God s Word? TRANSITION: When our hearts are right, we respond to God s Word with worship and obedience. We also need to study Scripture to make sure we fully understand what God is saying to us. Verse 6. Notice that as Ezra read the Scriptures, he praised the Lord. The word for praise in this passage literally means to bless through praise or a spoken blessing. It comes from a root word meaning to kneel or to bless. In Jewish synagogues a blessing was pronounced between the readings of each section of Scripture. Certainly Ezra demonstrated that he respected the Word of God he read to the people. He recognized these words were not devoid of meaning or power, but were the words of the great God. The Old Testament frequently referred to the greatness of God (Deut. 10:17; Neh. 9:32; Jer. 32:18; Dan. 9:4). The Hebrew adjective rendered great describes something large or that stands above something else. Ezra understood he was encountering God in the ancient words. This is the reason we respect the Word of God. The people responded in three ways that demonstrated their respect for the authority of God s Word. First, they had their hands uplifted. The lifting of the hands was an outward symbol of worship and prayer. The psalmist prayed that God would hear his prayer as he lifted his hands in worship toward the temple (Ps. 28:2). Psalm 134:2 encouraged the worshiper, Lift up your hands in the holy place and praise the Lord. Paul encouraged men to lift up their hands as they prayed (1 Tim. 2:8). As the people heard the Word of God read, they began to worship and commune with God. Second, the people cried out, Amen, Amen! as they heard the Word of God. By shouting this word of affirmation, they indicated their submission to the authority of the Word of God. By repeating it twice, they were doubly emphasizing the importance of the words they heard. The word amen was used in the time of David (1 Chron. 16:36), in the synagogue, and in the early church (1 Cor. 14:16). The people responded a third way to the reading of God s Word when they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. The word for bowed down occurs 15 times in the Old Testament, and it is always followed by the verb to worship. Bowing with their faces to the ground illustrated their humility and reverence for the Word of God. 132 SeSSion 10

8 A continual life of renewal requires a life that is adjusted continually to the Word of God. In order for this to happen, the Christian must not only read the Bible, he or she must also respond to God s Word with worship and obedience. STUDY THE BIBLE Nehemiah 8: minutes Nehemiah 8:7-8 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. Study God s Word to ensure your full understanding. Verse 7. Ezra not only read the Scripture, he also wanted to make sure the people understood accurately what they were hearing. The Scripture needed to be explained. Why did the Word of God need explanation? The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and these people had spent their entire lives in a foreign country where Hebrew was not the official language. Likewise, a cultural gap existed between them and the Hebrew Scriptures. They may have needed help understanding the cultural customs reflected in the Scripture. We have similar issues as well. Most cannot read Hebrew, and many of the customs may seem strange and foreign. Good translation and explanation of the Scripture can aid in a fuller understanding of its meaning. To ensure the people understood the Scripture, thirteen Levites assisted Ezra by explaining the law. They helped bridge the cultural gap between the Babylonian captivity and the Jews return to Jerusalem. Eight of the thirteen expositors would later participate in the public confession of the people (Neh. 9:3-5), and at least nine of them signed the covenant (10:9-13). The phrase as they stood in their READ: Read verses 7-8. SUMMARIZE: The men mentioned in verse 7 were Levites, and their task that day was to help the people understand the law. Call attention to the numbered statements on PSG page 131 to note two specific ways the Levites helped the people understand. 1. Reading and translating. The people had been in captivity for 70 years. There was a culture gap, and many of the people may have even lost their ability to read, speak, and understand Hebrew. These Levites possibly were translating the Scriptures into the language and vernacular of the people. 2. Giving the meaning. The Levites were actively pursuing clarity to ensure the Scripture was not misunderstood. Clarity is doubly important so when we are reading and studying the Bible. 133

9 THE POINT God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. SAY: We must learn to apply God s Word consistently to in order for it to fuel the restoration and revival we need in our lives. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 133): What steps can you take to better understand and apply God s Word? (Alternate: What steps can our group take to better understand and apply God s Word?) GUIDE: IN ADVANCE, obtain a large watermelon. If you need some help, ask a friend to deliver it to the room for you. Point to the melon and comment that learning the Bible is much like eating a big watermelon. You have to take one bite at a time. Long-time Christians who have a habit of feasting on God s Word know that a bite or two here or there down through the years is not sufficient to sustain a healthy Christian life. Yet, today is not too late to start a regular, healthy diet from Scripture. places may indicate that the thirteen moved among the crowd as Ezra read. This may mean that Ezra read the law in manageable segments so that people could grasp each section and ask questions as they needed fuller understanding. The work of the Levites is also the work of the Bible study leader or preacher of the Word of God today. To assume that hearing the Word is the same as understanding the Word is a mistake. We should always teach or preach for understanding. In order to do that, the Word of God must be explained to those who have a gap in their understanding. Verse 8. Verse 8 explains how the Levites accomplished the task of explaining the Word of God. As Ezra read aloud the Word of God, the Levites were involved in translating the Word so that the people could understand it. Translating comes from a Hebrew word meaning to break up or to break down into small units. It is a difficult word to understand. Some people think that this verb meant that they were breaking the Scriptures down into smaller units so that the people could understand them. Following this interpretation, the expositors broke the Scriptures down into small units to explain them. Another interpretation of translating is that the Levites were providing an Aramaic translation for the Jews since they no longer had a grasp of Hebrew as they once did. The scrolls Ezra used would have been written in Hebrew, and the people were now speaking Aramaic. Many would have needed a translation of the reading into their own language. The Levites broke the Hebrew texts down into manageable fragments in Aramaic. Without the translations, the people would not have had a good understanding of the Scripture. Today, translations are helpful for people to understand the text. In addition to translating the Word of God, the Levites were giving the meaning of the words that Ezra read. This is the word for the Hebrew midrash. It comes from the Hebrew verb meaning to seek with care, to inquire, or to require. Unlike later definitions of midrash, which included fanciful attempts of explaining the text, the term here referred to simple explanations of the texts heard by the 134 SeSSion 10

10 ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/DR. LOUISE KOHL SMITH Jews gathered at the Water Gate. The Levites were there to make sure that those who heard the Word could understand it in their own language and in their own context. If we are to live awakened lives, we must remain committed to the Word of God. That commitment certainly involves reading the Word, but it goes beyond that. We must read the Word out of a heart that reveres its Author, understands its message, and obeys. This provides the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. Synagogue at Qasrin, northeast of the Sea of Galilee. The following excerpt is from The Persian Empire (Win ). Postexilic worship was characterized by two dramatic changes. First, worship placed a new emphasis on the Torah. This emphasis became the most important distinguishing characteristic of postexilic Hebrew worship. The result of the new emphasis on the Scriptures was far-reaching. Rather than depending on priests to offer sacrifices, worshipers wanted scribes and teachers ( rabbis ) to instruct them in the law. The second major shift in Hebrew worship was not in the method but in the location. The need for the law to be read and taught in individual communities became increasingly evident. In all likelihood, this was one of the factors that led to the rise and growing popularity of the synagogue in postexilic Judaism. Previous articles, Ezra, Scribe and Priest (Win ), and The Levites (Winter ), relate to this session and can be purchased at biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at or call DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to His Fuel for My Life (PSG, p. 133). SHARING THE GOOD NEWS The Bible contains absolutely everything we need to know to begin a saving relationship with Christ. God s Word is our foundation and our starting point for our lives as believers. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. 135

11 THE POINT God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Recall The Point: God s Word is the fuel for a consistent godly lifestyle. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 134; see text to the right). Stress that without the guidance of Scripture our spiritual lives become stagnant and unfruitful. Encourage each group member to follow through with one of the applications this week. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Invite the group to say with you Psalm 119:105 (see the activity on PSG p. 133): Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Emphasize that, even though we are up in years, we are still on the journey with Christ. Encourage group members to give God s Word a significant portion of each day. LIVE IT OUT God s Word is the only thing that can give us the proper direction we need in life. It truly is our only foundation and fuel to sustain a renewed walk with Christ. Consider these applications and how God may want to use one of them this week to help you live a more consistent godly lifestyle. > > Begin. If you don t have a daily habit of reading Scripture, start today. A devotional book or magazine can help you get started by offering a brief Scripture passage to read each day along with some thoughts on the passage and a prayer. Scheduling at least minutes a day can bear wonderful fruit. > > Extend. If you already have a daily practice of Bible reading and prayer, consider extending that time. If you usually spend 15 minutes, extend it to 30. If 30, extend it to 45. Try to be even more attentive to what the Spirit is saying to you as you read and pray. Keep a journal of what you experience and learn during each session. > > Branch out. Pray about leading a new small Bible study group, either in your church or in your neighborhood. Invite two or three Christian friends to join you to help lay the groundwork for the group. Pray with the intent of beginning sometime in the first week of next month. PRAY: Dear Lord, open our hearts anew to receive Your Word each day. Strengthen us to apply it consistently to our lives. Amen. 136 SeSSion 10

12 My Thoughts My Group's Prayer Requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Seek It Like Silver I needed to make the wisest use of my senior years. I didn t want to learn about algebra or chemistry, and I certainly didn t want to learn about biology or any of the other ologies. That s when I finally decided I no longer wanted a degree just to say I had one. If I were going to study, then what I really wanted to learn more about was the Bible. To continue reading Seek It Like Silver from Mature Living magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles, and enter the article title in the search bar. Or use your smartphone to access the article directly by scanning the QR code. 137