In Chapter 8 Ezra had read to the assembly the entire Law of God which brought down the house with weeping and grief.

Transcription

1 Nehemiah 9:1-25 The People of Israel Confess Their Sin Ethanim or Tishri is the month being spoken of in verse 1; it is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar during which is celebrated the Feast of Booths. For seven days the people were to live in tents. This was considered a joyful celebration because it was to call to mind the deliverance of the Israelites from the hand of Pharaoh and their living in tents in the wilderness. In Chapter 8 Ezra had read to the assembly the entire Law of God which brought down the house with weeping and grief. [The notes from the Life Application Study Bible (NKJV) regarding Chapter 8 verses 9-18 pp : 8:9, 10 The people wept openly when they heard God s laws and realized how far they were from obeying them. But Ezra told them they should be filled with joy because the day was holy. It was time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in need. Celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with giving. This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy. Enter into celebrations that honor God, and allow him to fill you with his joy. 8:13ff After Ezra read God s laws to the people, they studied them further and then acted upon them. A careful reading of Scripture always calls for a response to these questions: What should I do with this knowledge? How should my life change? We must do something about what we have learned if it is to be a real significance for our lives. 8:14-17 During the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles [Booths], the people lived in booths made of branches. This practice was instituted as a reminder of their rescue from Egypt and the time spent in shelters in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:43). They were to think about God s protection and guidance during their years of wandering and the fact that God would still protect and guide them if they obeyed him. This was a time to remember their origins, where they came from. It is helpful to remember our beginnings in order to appreciate where we are today. Think back on your life to see where God has led you. Then thank God for his continuing work to protect you and provide for your needs. ] Chapter 9 opens with a reference to the seventh month (Ethanim) and that for a reason not disclosed, the people met in assembly on the twenty-fourth of this month with fasting, in sackcloth and with dust on their heads. This is a gesture of extreme repentance and mourning (grief). It is important to note that those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners: and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. (Nehemiah 9:2 NIV) You re going to love this: they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for one-fourth of the day [that s six hours]; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God. (Nehemiah 9:3 NIV) [Life Application Study Bible Notes p :1 Fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting dust on the head were public signs of sorrow and repentance. 9:2, 3 The Hebrews practice open confession, admitting their sins to one another. Reading and studying God s Word should precede confession (see 8:18) because God can show us there we are sinning. Honest Writing Group November 8, 2011 Page 1

2 confession should precede worship, because we cannot have a right relationship with God if we hold on to certain [I say any j.t.] sins. Next is a rather lengthy but important prayer which covers Israel s history and how God continues to rescue her but that she continues to make the same mistakes again and again. This is a recurrent theme throughout the Old Testament particularly frequent among the Psalms. These ills plague Israel, I think, because the importance of transmitting the history from one generation to the next is not done. As early as the Judges we can see this recurring theme of obedience, disobedience, punishment, and reclamation. None of this is new. Nehemiah 9:26-38 The Prayer Continues The prayer continues in the same vein until the end of the chapter. The closing of the chapter reminds me of the kinds of bargains I have made with God: Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests. (Nehemiah 9:38 ESV) This is interesting because I think that the writer of Nehemiah believes that these people will be able to keep such an agreement. Why is it impossible for these people to keep this solemn agreement? What needs to happen in order to keep it? Nehemiah 7:73b 8:3, 5-18 Ezra Reads the Law to the Assembled Company This reading of the Law of God by Ezra at the Water Gate is a pivotal moment in this book. Here the Law is proclaimed and if that were not enough, those who did not understand were taught it [the law, the statutes, the rules, and the ordinances]. It is while they go through the books of Moses that they discover that they are required to keep the Feast of Booths [Tabernacles] and so undertake to do so. It is extremely important to keep the Word of God before us at all times it seems that it was important here: And day by day, from the first day to the last day [of the Feast of Booths], he [Ezra?] 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. This Feast of Booths occurred only once every seven (!) years. Joel 1:1-12 The Locusts Joel, the son of Pethuel, gives his name to this book. Throughout all of Israel s (& Judah s) history, the LORD has spoken through his prophets. Also, throughout all of Israel s (& Judah s) history most of the prophecies have fallen on deaf ears. The point is not whether the ears are deaf or dull of hearing, or that the LORD has hardened the hearts of the people, the point is that the LORD keeps sending these unpopular men to warn of impending disaster for the sins of the nation. Chapter one opens with an address to the elders crying for them to see if they can remember Well they can t remember which is the crux of the problem. Once more, the history and the Law are not transmitted to the next generation. To address this shortfall Joel admonishes them (the elders and everyone else by extension) to tell it (the history and the Law) to their children and their children s children and so on. Again, the exhortation to pass the faith to the next generation. Joel was pleading with God s people sometime near the Babylonian Captivity (586 B.C.) The imagery Joel uses is the locust. To the collective memory of Israel (if they remember) the locusts hearken to the eighth plague visited upon Egypt so many years before. As Moses starts out, the LORD Writing Group November 8, 2011 Page 2

3 hardens Pharaoh s heart, but by the time of the eighth plague, Pharaoh had mastered that art by himself. By the time that Joel comes along, Israel and Judah have been running this cycle of obedience to idolatry to punishment to repentance and then back to the top idolatry yet again. Whose heart is hardened and by whom? Joel talks of four different locusts here, each one more troublesome than the one preceding. While it is possible that there are not four different kinds, this image may have been employed as a means of emphasis. His vivid speech here is intended to drive home the displeasure of the LORD with his people s sin. Locusts were feared, not because of personal harm done to one s person, but rather the economic devastation these insects can inflict for they swarm in the millions. Anytime we think of locusts it is always in terms of plague and plague always means judgment. Verse 5 addresses the drunkards telling them that the locusts will destroy the vineyards in addition to all other vegetation. Vested self-interest? The people of Israel might be likened to a drunkard; hardened to sensitivity to sin. Here the locusts are compared to a great enemy army but worse because defense against locusts is puny; defense against an invading army might be met with man for man. How does one defend against an insect? The damage of the locusts, of course, takes out the wheat and the grape these are used for the daily offerings. The wine (grape) and the bread (wheat) also symbolize flesh and blood. There is no oil because the olive trees are counted among the casualties starvation looms on the horizon. All the trees of the field are withered; Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men. (Joel 1:12 NKJV) Oil also represents the blessing of the LORD. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (Psalm 23:5 KJV) But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 92:10 KJV) [Life Application Study Bible Notes p :4 A locust plague can be as devastating as an invading army. Locusts gather in swarms too great to number (1:6) and fly several feet above the ground, seeming to darken the sun as they pass by (2:2). When they land, they devour almost every piece of vegetation (1:7-12), covering and entering everything in their path (2:9). 1:4 Joel s detailed description has caused many to believe that he was referring to an actual locust plague that had come or was about to come upon the land. Another view is that the locusts symbolize an invading enemy army. Both may be foreseen. The locusts represent devastation, and Joel s point was the God would punish the people because of their sin. Joel calls this judgment the day of the LORD. Joel 1:15-2:11 Mourning for the Land / The Day of the LORD In verses 13 & 14 Joel is calling for an attitude of mourning for the land. Don sackcloth and ashes and turn your heart toward God. Repent! Fasting demonstrated humility and sorrow for sin and a sense of urgency. As in Nehemiah, a solemn assembly was called for so that the whole nation could partake of this act of repentance. How is it we have lost any sense of urgency regarding sin? In verse 15 we have, at last, the proclamation that all of this is from the LORD. Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as destruction from the Almighty. (Joel 1:15 NKJV) The descriptions in verses 16-18, while referring to the locusts, may also be likened to a drought. Here Israel is in a spiritual drought a need for the word of God. The phrase day of the L ORD always refers to Writing Group November 8, 2011 Page 3

4 judgment, either immediate or final. The point is that the LORD will prevail over evil and wickedness. Even amid judgment, there is hope for those whose faith and trust are in him. Attendant with the locusts is fire. Joel cries out to God about the fiery plague and the devastation caused by it. Unhappily, the innocent are often caught up in the judgment on the wicked. Surely there was a righteous remnant even when Elijah thought he was the only true believer left in his joust with Jezebel, the LORD pointed out the there were 7,000 who had not kneeled to Baal. We have to believe that however hopeless things appear that the LORD will meet our needs give us this day our daily bread. Chapter 2 expands on the description of the day of the LORD. While we typically think of God as inhabiting the light, here he hides in clouds and thick darkness. When the Hebrews were escaping Egypt it was a cloud by day in which the LORD abode. The people mentioned in verse 2 may be a reference to an invading army sent to bring judgment like Assyria for Israel and Babylonia for Judah. The response of this generation of people was the same as those who lived during the time of Jeremiah when they did not believe him; It ain t gonna happen! What seems to escape God s people is that they really think he will not punish them. Their land, before the destruction by the locusts may be viewed like a Garden of Eden but by then it is too late. On comes the army: Like a strong people set in battle array. (Joel 2:5b NKJV) This armed force appears to be impervious to any offense Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down. (Joel 2:8b NKJV) This happens to be the LORD s army (as Nebuchadnezzar s was in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.). The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it? (Joel 2:11 NKJV) Joel 2:12-20 A Call to Repentance / The LORD will be Zealous for His Land So what is the solution to the threat of divine devastation? The resolution is the same here as it has been throughout all of Israel s history, i.e., Turn to Me with all your heart (Joel 2:12 NKJV) Yes, the lament of the LORD is painfully the same: repent with the heart. It should be clear that when one lives by rules, the rules then become the solution; if one follows the rules then everything should go well. Unfortunately, following rules leaves out the heart (and soul) and it is the heart which needs to be broken. The L ORD wants us to be heartbroken about our sins; it is less the offense than it is how you feel about the offense. Hear the plea from the LORD in verse 13: and So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD our God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. The LORD executes righteousness Writing Group November 8, 2011 Page 4

5 And justice for all who are oppressed. The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according t our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:6, 8-14 (NKJV) Psalm 103 had been written by David hundreds of years before; so not all that much has changed regarding how the LORD is eager to forgive. He only wants us to turn to him with all our hearts. The rending or tearing of garments was to be an outward sign of what had happened on the inside. Joel uses the same language as David in describing the patience of the LORD slow to anger Verses enjoin the whole congregation (nation) to join in fasting, weeping and repenting over their sin. If the people have a change of heart and turn to the LORD, he is eager to restore and refresh the land. The threat of attack from the enemies in the north will be turned away into a barren land. The imagery here brings us back to the locusts in chapter 1. Joel 2:21-27 Rejoice in the LORD for He Has Restored the Land Verses encourage us to Be glad and rejoice (v. 21) because the LORD will restore all that had been destroyed by the locusts he had sent upon the land. So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. (Joel 2:25, NKJV emphasis added) How does this passage of Joel apply to us today? What fear does this passage address? We know that Jesus admonished us Fear not on many occasions and yet. What fears do you have that God Writing Group November 8, 2011 Page 5

6 cannot allay (remove, fix, soothe)? What does fear do? (It keeps our eyes off the LORD.) Unhappily the day will come when we will finally see just how foolish we have been to be so afraid. At that point we shall see just how much power we had at our disposal. Elisha, in 2 Kings Chapter 6 prayed that the L ORD would open the eyes of his servant who was shaking in fear at the presence of an enemy army. The L ORD opened his eyes to reveal that the heavenly host far out-numbered the enemy. To quote Paul in Romans: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32 NKJV) God as done his part and our part is to believe. Writing Group November 8, 2011 Page 6