Bible Background CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE S BIBLE YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW

Transcription

1 Bible Background CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE S BIBLE YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW

2 BIBLE SUNDAY 2011 : BIBLE BACKGROUND This background to Nehemiah has been written to help preachers prepare for their sermon. It also offers an introduction to the passage for leaders responsible for other areas of Bible Sunday such as the youth and children s programmes. Nehemiah has a timelessness about him which makes this study so exciting. And as we celebrate 400 years of the King James Version, Nehemiah s life, work and strategy for change are superb examples of just why the Bible has made such a deep imprint in our culture. Whether you are going through personal transition or looking for lessons on working in productive teams, the book still has a lot to say today. This passage marks an amazing turning point in the life of the emerging community. After some 70 years of exile in Babylon, many of the people had returned to Jerusalem. But as Nehemiah was to learn, all was not well. were acutely embarrassed that their spiritual homeland was in ruins and made insecure by the broken walls and burned gates (Nehemiah 1.3). From his own secure home in Babylon, Nehemiah was seized The opening message of this book seems to be quite clear: the Bible can bring about a better and more ordered world, but that takes prayer, confession and a passion to act when God speaks to us. There is also a personal lesson for all would-be reformers here: no change is likely to come through us until change is made to us and in us. As Nehemiah allowed God to bring change in him, he moved from being a personal attendant of the king to become governor, engineer and reformer of the returning Israelite exiles. His personal transformation led to the transformation of the entire nation. It has always been the case that nations change when people change. In future services or in small groups, further study could be made of many others, e.g. Abraham, Moses, Isaiah or the apostle

3 Bible Sunday 2011 : Bible Background Page 2 Luther and John Wesley. It is easy to assume that Nehemiah brought about change exclusively with the people of God. But nothing would have happened without the support of the king. Christians who think that God is indifferent to political partnerships for the well-being of society should think again! What began as a partnership between the king and Nehemiah (2.6 9) became a partnership with the community leaders ( ) and every member of the community (3.1 33) who worked on the walls as they overcame ridicule (4.1) and opposition (4.4 23). Nehemiah s reforms went even deeper than the rebuilding of the walls. They dealt with corruption and inequality (5.1 12) and boosted morale so much that the walls reforms included a meticulous census, a reformed and re-established priesthood and (7.73). Although all this happened as a prelude to the public reading of God s Word in our passage, it is clear that Scripture was already deeply at work driving these reforms. Nehemiah s social and economic reforms, for example (5.6 12), were guided by the book of Deuteronomy s restrictions on usury (Deuteronomy ). His anger about indentured God s Word had so shaped the minds and standards of Nehemiah and Ezra that its deep (where British people may legitimately register their religion as Jedi ), the 400-year legacy of the King But the people knew that something was still missing. It was as though all their efforts for a better society, and the relative stability and prosperity they were starting to experience, revealed a gaping spiritual void which still existed. So when they met in the public square, they asked Ezra to read God s Word. FURTHER DETAILS The people Nehemiah was the cupbearer of Artaxerxes I of Persia ( BC). The position of cupbearer was heard news of the depleted state of Jerusalem from his cousin Hanani when he was resident in Susa, and authorisation to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. He did this by motivating the residents and, in spite of serious opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah, he achieved this in the short space of 52 days. He also instigated some social reforms and sought to increase the population of the city. At the point in the story where we come in (Nehemiah 8), the people settled in their towns had come together to hear, understand and respond to God s Law. Ezra, the main character in Nehemiah 8, is described as a priest and a scribe, devoted to studying, practising and teaching the Law of Moses (Ezra 7.6 8). He is also described as leading an immigration from Babylon to Jerusalem in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes. Unfortunately we do not know whether Artaxerxes I or II is meant, so the date for this is either 458 BC or 397 BC. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra is presented as being in charge of the book of the Law as well. He read from it to the assembled congregation of men, women and children.

4 Bible Sunday 2011 : Bible Background Page 3 The time Nehemiah s dates Elephantine in upper Egypt. It was around 440 BC that the event we focus on took place, very soon after the completion of the rebuilding of Jerusalem s walls. The seventh month (8.1) was the time for a series of festivals New Year, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles, sometimes called the Festival of Booths or Shelters. (For more on these, see Exodus 34.22; Leviticus ; Numbers ; Deuteronomy ). The book We cannot be sure exactly which parts of Scripture the book of the Law (8.1) contained. The fact that the reading took around six hours ( from dawn until noon, 8.3) shows it was substantial, even if that included the process of communication in which the Levites were involved. Presumably it was something like Genesis to Deuteronomy, or parts of these books. The explanation The Good News Bible translation of verse 8 suggests that the Levites were translating from Hebrew into Aramaic. Some scholars object to this on the grounds that, even in exile, the Jews had not lost their knowledge of Hebrew. The other understanding of the process is that the Levites were explaining the implications of the Law for the people s current context. Whatever the exact process, the result was that the words hit home and the people grasped God s meaning with unsettling clarity! This background is written by Revd Dr Joel Edwards, International Director for Micah Challenge. Further details written by Revd Dr David Spriggs, Bible and Church Consultant, Bible Society.

5 Sermon CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE S BIBLE YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW

6 BIBLE SUNDAY 2011 : SERMON This talk outline has been produced for you to adapt and make your own in ways that will best engage available. The outline (bullet point) version offers a quick overview of the structure, while the full version provides material for a minute talk. Sermon illustrations and all-age activities opening up some of the key points are also available. OUTLINE VERSION 1. A people who are ready to listen (Nehemiah 8.1 2a) Nehemiah 8 is one of the rare and exciting public readings of the Scriptures found in the Bible and shows how inseparable the Bible was from the lifeline of the people. By this stage Jerusalem s walls had been rebuilt and the gates made secure. The people had But incredibly they knew there was still something missing. They asked for the Scriptures to be read they weren t forced to listen! The people had rebuilt the city with God s help, but recognised that they still needed to be built up spiritually. More is needed in a nation than real or relative wealth and security. We still need spiritual values to guide all aspects of our lives. For example: Britain was still a great economic power in 1797 when William Wilberforce published A Practical View of Real Christianity, in which he challenged nominal Christian faith by appealing to the Bible. A key goal for our ministry and prayer is to lead people into a hunger for God which goes beyond their material needs or relative comfort.

7 Bible Sunday 2011 : Sermon Page 2 2. A people where everyone listens (Nehemiah 8.2b 3) people, whatever their status, and in all types of situations. The Bible speaks across gender to men and women, to everyone old enough to understand to children too! situations. 3. A people who stand to attention (Nehemiah 8.5 6) The main role of a restored priesthood is to elevate the scriptures so that it changes people s public and private behaviour. Elevating the Scriptures raises people up in worship. Elevating the Scriptures leads people to bow in humility. A central message of the Bible is the call to humility as a critical value in community relationships. Biblical transformation brings new values which lead to a better quality of personal and community life. Some people describe this as redemption and lift. God s truth speaks equally in times of crisis and times of relative security. We are at our best not when we build material walls of comfort or security, but when God has our full attention. 4. A people who understand and change (Nehemiah ) The Bible presents itself as a book not of information, but of transformation. This was the case in Josiah s great reform (e.g. 2 Kings ). But it needs to be understood! For example, John Wesley s Methodism ensured that people understood and applied the Scriptures through systematic teaching. It s not what you say that matters. It s what people hear you say. God has always been clear that paying attention and understanding makes a huge difference to our quality of life (e.g. the parable of the sower in Matthew ). FULL SERMON Introduction Having returned to Jerusalem, Nehemiah had been used by God to begin a powerful process of reform among Israel s returned exiles which included rebuilding the walls and restoring the gates. The people also dealt with corruption and restored the given to them many years before. But they still had an intuitive thirst for more; they needed to hear God s Word afresh.

8 Bible Sunday 2011 : Sermon Page 3 1. A people who are ready to listen (Nehemiah 8.1 2a) month they all assembled in Jerusalem, in the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law which the Lord had given Israel through Moses, to get the book of the Law. So Ezra brought it to the place where the people had gathered Nehemiah 8.1 2a, GNB Key thought People are probably more willing to listen than we think. Quote than any other book. Thomas B Macaulay Brief exposition Nehemiah 8 is one of the rare and exciting public readings of the Scriptures found in the Bible and shows just how inseparable the Bible was from the people. Although there is no previous reference to the book of the Law, it seems clear that this was the basis on which Nehemiah had been working with the people whose By this stage the people had rebuilt the city with God s help, but they knew that they still needed to be built up spiritually. Having achieved so much, they could easily have rested on their laurels. But amazingly, they not Nehemiah asked for the scriptures to be read. Nehemiah had enforced many reforms, but the people themselves felt the need to hear God s Word. A good question: Is it possible that the people were drawn to the scriptures as a by-product of Nehemiah s constant life of prayer? If so, does the Bible challenge us to the pre-evangelism of prayer? It seems clear from our text that more is needed in a nation than real or relative wealth and security. We still need spiritual values guiding all aspects of our lives. This was the challenge for William Wilberforce. Years after Wesley s great revival in Britain, Wilberforce was still moved in 1797 to write and distribute his book, A Practical View of Real Christianity, to revive Christian values in all areas of life in what he described as a reformation of manners. Applying the Word Our commitment to God s Word should lead us to apply ourselves to ways in which we may prayerfully lead people to revive or discover a thirst for the Bible and how it applies to our lives today. BibleFresh is a current example of a growing movement from Bible Society, the churches and other

9 Bible Sunday 2011 : Sermon Page 4 2. A people where everyone listens (Nehemiah 8.2b 3) men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand. There in the square by the gate he read the Law to them from dawn until noon, and they all listened attentively. Nehemiah 8.2b 3, GNB Key thought The Bible is an open book which speaks to us in our differences. Quote We are afraid that if we stop and really look at God s Word, we might discover that he evokes greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give him. David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream Brief exposition in it. The Bible speaks to all kinds of people, whatever their status, and in all types of situations. If we allow God to speak, he will do whoever we are! A good question: How do we best get the Word to speak to experiences, our needs and our areas of interest are so different? In a world rightly concerned about diversity, we have the opportunity to present a living Word which speaks to everyone irrespective of their age, gender or social status. the Bible continues to speak to our differences. The people in Nehemiah s day would usually have been very reluctant to have men and women gathering together in an act of worship. Even more so children even those old enough to understand were likely to have been excluded. But what happened in the square that day was a remarkable and radical worship event. Men, women and children all recognised that, through the Scriptures, God had something transforming to say to them. Illustration: At a trauma workshop in the Democratic Republic of Congo, people displaced by civil war listened to a dramatised reading of Lamentations 5. As they heard the story of the Israelites invasion by the Babylonians, they said, This is our story! We had a beautiful land and we lost it. Now that it was acceptable to cry out to God in their pain and grief. Applying the Word A pastor shared a regular preaching practice which he found helpful as a local church leader. From time to time he would ask young people about the burning questions they faced in school, university or in their homes. He would then preach on those topics. It tended to guarantee a good hearing! This kind of approach to hearing God could have men, women and children really listening to the Bible.

10 Bible Sunday 2011 : Sermon Page 5 3. A people who stand to attention (Nehemiah 8.5 6) As soon as he opened the book, they all stood up. Ezra said, Praise the LORD, the great God! All the people raised their arms in the air and answered, Amen! Amen! They knelt in worship, with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8.5 6, GNB Key thought We are at our best not when we build material walls of comfort or security, but when God has our full attention. Quote The Good Book now comes in every color of the rainbow including the colors of your college. There are Bibles for every category of humanity from seekers to cowboys, from brides to barmen. Micklethwait & Wooldridge, God is Back Brief exposition This must have been an amazing moment. Ezra mounted wasn t really about him. The people didn t stand because Ezra was on the platform. They stood when he opened the scriptures. It was all about the book! The main role of the restored priesthood was to elevate the Scriptures so that they changed people s public and private behaviour. A good question: How do we ensure that our personalities and personal preferences do not eclipse the Bible? There is something morally and spiritually symbolic about the people standing up together in worshipful response to the Word. Biblical transformation means living by new values which should lead to a better quality of life, as individuals and communities. This is the principle of redemption and lift. God s truth often cuts through to us in our crises gathering shows, it has the power to raise us up and bow us in worship of relative ease and security. Applying the Word For over two hundred years Bible Society has been partnering with people who have a real thirst to them. But there is one huge problem: even if they have a spiritual leader like Ezra, millions of Christians have no access to an open Word. They are eager to stand to attention if only God s words are in their own language or in forms (such as audio) they can understand fully. Can you help people in places like Ethiopia to have the Bible? It will go a long way in enriching the worship of many people across the world.

11 Bible Sunday 2011 : Sermon Page 6 4. A people who understand and change (Nehemiah ) Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, people could understand it. When the people heard what the Law required, they were so moved that they began to cry. So Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra, the priest and scholar of the Law, and the Levites who to mourn or cry. Now go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who haven t enough. Today is holy to our Lord, so don t be sad. The joy that the LORD gives you will make you strong. The Levites went around calming the people and telling them not to be sad on such a holy day. So all the people went home and ate and drank joyfully and shared what they had with others, because they understood what had been read to them. Nehemiah (GNB) Key thought It s not what you say that matters. It s what people hear you say. Quote The highest earthly enjoyments are but a shadow of the Lady Jane Grey Brief exposition The Bible was never meant to be an alternative telephone directory. It s far more interested in transformation than in passing on important information. But in order to transform, it really needs to be understood. It is the comprehension that makes all the difference. Something very similar happened many years earlier when the young Josiah was king of Israel. When Josiah s administrators discovered the book of the Law in the A good question: Is there any way of measuring what difference God s Word is making in people s lives as a result of what they have heard? Wesley were both evangelists and powerful preachers. But Wesley s helped avert revolution in England and shaped British politics a hundred years after his death in What was the reason for this? His methodism ensured that people understood what they heard. temple, it was through reading and understanding it that real change began to happen (2 Kings 22.11; ). Illustration: H+ is a new Bible Society course designed to help Christians today unpack the meaning of the Bible much as the Levites and Wesley s groups did. Over ten weeks participants learn and develop new skills in understanding the Bible together. At St Bartholomew s, Binley, in Coventry, Revd People are engaging with the Bible far more deeply than they have before, she says, and it s given them a thirst to go on doing this. The whole point of the parable of the sower was to tell us that understanding and obeying the Word is the key to fruitful living (Matthew ).

12 Bible Sunday 2011 : Sermon Page 7 Applying the Word When the people in the square heard and understood, it drove them to tears. But what was really called for was the joy of obeying. God wanted them to share their resources and be really happy about it! We all have the privilege of telling people about our faith in God. This year of the four-hundredth anniversary of the King James Bible has given us even more openings to share what the Scriptures what God is saying through it; to surprise them with the discovery that it is not the dry or pious book they might have thought. Joel Edwards is the International Director of Micah Challenge. Joel has been involved in Micah Challenge since it started in He travels the globe inspiring the Church to get involved in advocacy with and for the poor as part of their core mission.