Nehemiah 8:1-12
1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. 4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. 5 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. 6 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. 7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. 9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” 12 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. (Nehemiah 8:1-12)
In Ezekiel 40:1-4 the prophet tells us how, during the exile, God gave him a vision of the temple. In that vision he sees himself set upon “a very high mountain,” and to the south of it he can make out “some buildings that looked like a city.” Then a figure comes and stands beside him — Ezekiel describes him as a man “whose appearance was like bronze.” This “man” holds in his hand a linen cord and a measuring rod. He is there to show Ezekiel the measurements and the design of God’s city, Jehovah-Shammah, a name that means “the Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35). He begins this holy demonstration before Ezekiel with these words (Ezekiel 40:4):
4 The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.” (Ezekiel 40:4)
I believe that today these words apply to every one of us as well. You have been “brought here” to this place, into this church, for a purpose — for the purpose of hearing God’s words and receiving God’s vision for your life. So look with your spiritual eyes, listen with your spiritual ears, and take into your heart “everything I am going to show you.”
WHAT IS REVIVAL?
Pay close attention this morning, because what I am about to show you is a design for the church, a model of revival for the “city of God” (Hebrews 12:22). And when I speak of revival, I must say at once what revival is not. For today many people talk about revival, yet each one seems to understand it in a different way. So, what is revival not? First of all, revival does not consist merely of emotions or feelings. As Donald McGavran says, revival is not an “emotional orgy stirred up by a professional speaker, which creates the illusion of spiritual well-being, but after which the congregation goes on in exactly the same state it was in before.” Revival is not the opposite of responsible Christian conduct, nor is it simply a season of heightened interest in religion.
If revival is none of these things, then what is it? Revival is a stirring of the Church brought about by the working of the Holy Spirit which — again according to Donald McGavran, the father of the modern church-growth movement — leads to a “revival of New Testament Christianity.” The chief result of a true revival is always a repetition of the phenomenon of the Acts of the Apostles: a renewal in the spiritual life of believers that leads to the conversion of sinners to God. The effect of revival is always the rekindling of the faith of nominal Christians, the return of the fallen-away into the church, and a living, real experience of the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Revival presents the gospel message just as we find it in the New Testament, and it produces experiences just like those we see in the Acts of the Apostles — repentance, baptism in water and in the Holy Spirit, dedication to the service of God, and a share in mission. The aim of revival is not to make believers feel better, but to bring about the salvation of more and more immortal human souls for whom the precious blood of the Lamb of God was shed.
In Nehemiah 8:1-12 we read of a turning of those who returned from exile back to God. I think that from this short story we can draw a few lessons about what we too should do if we want revival in our own life, in our church, and in our country.
AS ONE PERSON
The first condition for revival is unity. In verse 1 we read:
1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. (Nehemiah 8:1)
Look, this was a miracle — everyone, regardless of their differences, acted “as one.” They had understanding and agreement among themselves. Without anyone driving them, at one and the same hour they all rose, washed, and went to one and the same place — the square before the Water Gate.
We read something similar in Acts 4:32:
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. (Acts 4:32)
How did it come about that they all lived in such perfect unity? Because they had been given the one Spirit to drink. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 the apostle Paul says:
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14)
And in verse 27 he adds:
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
If we want revival, we too must act as one person. History shows that revivals are born when there is unity among the leaders of the church, and they cease when quarrels and strife arise among them. But in order for Christ to be manifested and to work on the earth, the church, His body, all of us must recognize our unity and take pains to preserve it.
For it is God who makes us one. It is He who has “baptized us by one Spirit so as to form one body.” It is He who has “given us the one Spirit to drink.” But there is our side too, and it is to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Notice, we are not to try to achieve some unity of our own making, some artificial unity. No, we are already one. Our unity is rooted in the unity of God and in our belonging to Him. But we must guard our unity. For Satan’s tactic is “divide and rule.” In Ephesians 4:1-6 the apostle Paul says:
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
“One God, one Lord, one Spirit, one hope, one faith, one baptism, one body!” This should be our motto — the seven things that bind us together.
In our text we see that not only did the people come to the square before the Water Gate as one person, but Ezra did not serve the people on his own either — he served together with his team.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. (Nehemiah 8:4)
Notice, Ezra was not alone; on his right there was a group of ministers, and on his left another group of ministers. These men had recognized his authority and calling and stood by him in his ministry. If we want revival, we too must learn how to work in a team and how to be part of a team. In the following verses we read how Ezra began the service, but it was carried on by his colleagues.
5 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. (Nehemiah 8:5)
Notice the reverence the people had for God and for His Word. Standing while the Word is read is an expression of worship and honor toward God. That is why I think it is good for us also to stand when we read passages from the Bible during our services.
6 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. 7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. (Nehemiah 8:6-8)
As the representative of the people, Ezra “opened the book,” “praised the Lord,” and led the people in worship; but the reading and interpreting itself was not done by him alone, but by a group of priests and Levites. This ought to show us that revival is not, and never will be, the work of just one person. That is why Matthew 9:36-38 says:
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:36-38)
PEOPLE LIKE EZRA
As we have seen, the first condition for revival is the unity of the church. The second is to be people like Ezra.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. (Nehemiah 8:2)
Who was Ezra the scribe? This matters to us, because for us today Ezra is a model of a leader of revival. In Ezra 7:1-5 there is a little more information about him. From there we learn that Ezra was a great-great-grandson of Aaron the high priest.
1 After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, 2 the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, 3 the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, 4 the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, 5 the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— (Ezra 7:1-5)
Ezra was a priest and the son of a high priest. The good news is that in Christ we too can be like him. For my own part, at least, I believe that I am “a priest, the son of a high priest.” Why? Because I am a spiritual son of Christ, who is a “high priest in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:17). According to the author of the letter to the Hebrews, the words “Here am I, and the children God has given me” are messianic. That is why the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
So then, if we have believed in Christ and received Him as our Lord, we are priests, sons of a high priest. Does not the apostle John say the same in his Revelation 1:5-6?
5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)
Another thing we learn about Ezra from Ezra 7:6 is that “Ezra came up from Babylon.” Babylon was the place of the exile. Many of the Jews had grown used to living in captivity. They had settled in after a fashion, and though they were not fully free, they were comfortable there. But Ezra, and the other Jews who followed Zerubbabel and Jeshua son of Jozadak, were people who longed to be free. So then, if we want to be like Ezra, we too must have in our heart a longing for freedom — freedom not from some physical captivity, but freedom from the spiritual captivity of Satan, the world, sin, and the flesh.
The third thing we learn about Ezra, besides the fact that he was “a priest, the son of a high priest,” and that he longed for freedom, is that Ezra was “a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given” (Ezra 7:6). That he was a “scribe” meant that Ezra was a man of the books. Not of some novels, but of the sacred books that contained the Law, the words of God which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given to His people through the prophet Moses. And Ezra was not just a scribe, but a “well versed” scribe. To be “well versed” here means not some material object, but someone who is competent, prepared, an expert, someone who knows his work through and through. This means that Ezra not only knew the sacred Scriptures, but knew them in depth. And what we see in Ezra, and in which he can be an example to us, is that Ezra not only knew God’s Word exceptionally well, but he was a channel for it. He did not keep the Word to himself, but passed it on to those around him, and in our text to the whole nation. In fact, this was something natural for the Lord’s priests. Malachi 2:7 says:
7 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth. (Malachi 2:7)
This is what we too must be if we want to be bearers of revival — not only people who know God’s Word in depth, but people whose feet are “fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15), people who are ready to share it, channels for it.
The fourth thing we learn about Ezra from Ezra chapter 7 is that “the hand of the Lord his God was on him for good” (Ezra 7:6). In Ezra and Nehemiah this phrase is used seven times in all, and it means that Ezra and Nehemiah had God’s favor upon their lives and their work. But why was God with Ezra? Because Ezra had resolved to devote himself to God. In Ezra 7:10 we read:
10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)
Notice, Ezra had not only decided, but he had “devoted” himself, settled his resolve to study the Law, to apply it in his life, and to teach others to do the same. This was his way of life. Now do you understand what we need to do if we want “the hand of the Lord our God to be for good and upon us”?
A NATIONWIDE TURNING TO GOD’S WORD
So then, what are the conditions for revival? The first is that “through the bond of peace we keep the unity we have in the Spirit” — unity both of the leaders and of the members of the church. The second is to be people like Ezra — a royal priesthood; people who long for freedom from Satan, the world, sin, and the flesh; channels of the gospel; and people who by their dedication win God’s favor. And the third is a zealous and widespread turning to God’s Word (verse 1).
1 … They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. (Nehemiah 8:1)
Notice, everyone, the whole nation as one person, gathered in the square, and for one purpose only — to hear God’s Word, God’s Law. What had made them so zealous for God’s Word? I believe that after the exile they had grasped the words of Isaiah 8:20:
19 When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. (Isaiah 8:19-20)
“Consult God’s instruction and the testimony! If anyone does not speak according to this word, they truly have no light of dawn!” This is what our nation too must understand. The only salvation is with God, our Creator, and not with the occult practitioners who have occupied the mass media and go on winning the affection of the people. But if we want a sunrise and not a sunset, then we must all turn to God — not only the priests, not only the ministers, but the whole nation, as verse 2 says: “all who were able to understand” (verses 2-3).
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:2-3)
Verses 2 and 3 say that the assembly on that day was made up of men, women, and it speaks of those who “were able to understand.” Who were they? These were children who had reached an age at which they could understand the Law and its interpretation.
Look, understanding God’s Word and the gospel is crucial for our salvation. In Matthew chapter 13, where Jesus explains the parable of the sower, He says that the successful, fruitful soil stands for those who understand the word (Matthew 13:23).
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
And those who do not understand God’s Word are like the soil along the path, from which the “birds” snatch the seed — that is, Satan steals it away (Matthew 13:19):
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. (Matthew 13:19)
Do you notice here the contrast between the two kinds of people — the one who “hears the word and understands it,” and the other who “hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it”?
On that day, however, all who were gathered, the whole nation, both the people and their leaders, had fixed their undivided attention on God’s Word — the one group so as to explain and interpret it rightly, the other so as to understand it. Verse 3 says that “all the people listened attentively” (or, in the Hebrew, “gave their ears”) to the Book of the Law.
This undivided attention was not in vain, for it helped the people to understand God’s Word, and it produced in them weeping and repentance. Verse 9 says:
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:9)
Notice, all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law. They understood them; they understood their truth; they understood their sin; they understood its consequences; they understood the greatness of God, His faithfulness, and their own unfaithfulness. That is why they wept.
But the day on which all this happened was a festival day. It was the “first day of the seventh month” (verse 2). According to the Law this was the Feast of Trumpets. On that day the people were not to work, but to celebrate their holy rest and to bring burnt offerings before God. Leviticus 23:23-25 says:
23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25 Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’ ” (Leviticus 23:23-25)
In Numbers chapter 10 God commanded Moses to make two silver trumpets to serve for breaking camp, for summoning the people, and for sounding the alarm in time of war. The ones to blow these trumpets were to be the priests. But besides everything we have already said, these trumpets were also used for sounding during the celebrations and festivals as a memorial before God. Numbers 10:10 says:
10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.” (Numbers 10:10)
So all these events we read about in Nehemiah chapter 8 took place precisely on this day. It was even more special for the Jews who had returned from exile, because it was on this very day, about 90 years earlier, in 536 B.C., that their fathers had renewed the offering of burnt offerings before God, even before the Second Temple was built. Ezra 3:1-2 says:
1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled together as one in Jerusalem. 2 Then Joshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. (Ezra 3:1-2)
Precisely because this day, according to the Law, was to be a day of joy and gladness, Nehemiah and the priests restrained the people from their tears of repentance and called them instead to rejoice and celebrate, since their strength is not merely in sorrow over sin, but in doing the will of God (verses 9-11).
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” (Nehemiah 8:9-11)
And so the people listened to their words and began to celebrate. But on that day they celebrated not only because the Law said so, but also because they had understood God’s Word, which had been read and interpreted before the meal.
12 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. (Nehemiah 8:12)
Notice, the people rejoiced, ate and drank, and made themselves “great joy.” But why? Because they had understood the words that had been made known to them. They had understood God’s call to repentance and to a holy life; they had understood that if they wanted there to be a “light of dawn” for them, then they must “consult God’s instruction and the testimony.”
And you — have you understood the words I have made known to you today? Have you understood what we must do if we want revival in Bulgaria? First, that “through the bond of peace we keep and restore the unity we have in the Spirit”; second, that we be people like Ezra — spiritual priests, sons of our High Priest Jesus; people who long for freedom from Satan, the world, sin, and the flesh; channels of the gospel; people who by their dedication win God’s favor; and third, that all together and everywhere we turn our backs on idols and the occult and seek with all our heart God and His Word. I believe that if we fulfill these three conditions, then God will truly pour out His rain of blessing and revival upon our nation.