Revive Me according to Your Word

Taught by Arlene S.
Notes by Linda G.

Today Arlene taught on chapters 7 and 8 of Nehemiah. The majority of her teaching was on chapter 8 although she gave a brief synopsis of chapter 7.

Chapter 7

As we began the chapter Arlene reminded us that at this point in Jerusalem the temple had been re-built and the walls were now complete. Arlene pointed out that the completion of a spiritual goal is not the end. There were several points she made starting with Nehemiah's assignment of people he would put in charge. Hanani (Nehemiah’s brother) and Hananiah (the commander of the citadel) were appointed to the positions of leadership. Going back to chapter 1, we see that Hanani was a man of action, initiative and leadership. Hananiah was appointed “because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do” (Neh 7:2b).

A second important point that Arlene made from this chapter is that Nehemiah set security measures in place (see Neh 7:3). She emphasized that we are never more at risk than when we have completed a project. As God told Joshua “there are still very large areas of land to be taken over” (Joshua 13:1b).

The third point she made is that Nehemiah was establishing a spiritually pure community, those who knew and worshiped the true God. (See Nehemiah 7:4-65). He was not just rebuilding the ruins but repopulating them as well. The genealogy listed in this chapter is evidence of the purity of the Jewish blood line of those who would inhabit Jerusalem. Arlene gave us something important to ponder as we read through the genealogies found in the bible. God knew all these people by name. He knows our names too! This point is made beautifully in the account of Hagar as she flees to the desert in Genesis. “She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me” (Gen. 16:13). The name she gave the Lord was ‘Jehovah El Roi’ - ‘the God who sees me’.

Chapter 8 - How Can We Experience Revival?

Arlene began her teaching on this chapter by asking us what we thought ‘revival’ meant. The more pressing question she asked us was ‘how do we experience this?’. The main idea of this passage is that renewal and vitality do not occur apart from God’s Word. Revival encompasses both personal and corporate revival. Alene gave us eight factors that were present in the revival that swept over the inhabitants of Jerusalem in chapter 8.

1)When God’s people realize that the temple is just a building without the Spirit.

The initial step towards revival is recognition. The temple had been rebuilt but something was missing. While in Nehemiah, they were recognizing this as a group we too can experience personal revival in our lives when we realize that something is missing as well. We see the yearning for this in the Psalms, “revive us, and we will call on your name” (Psalm 80:18b) and “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6).

2)When God’s people are united as one man around the word of God.

We see in verse 8:1 that “all the people assembled as one man”. They were united in their need of the Lord above all else. This principle can be applied on an individual level also. Arlene taught us that we can be divided within our own minds and hearts. Scripture shows this clearly. “That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all he does” (James 1:7-8). “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11). It is only as we decide to unite our heart and our minds to walk with God that revival can start in us individually.

3)When God’s people are willing to encounter Him in His word.

Arlene stressed that we all have the ability to understand God’s word. “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you” (1 John 2:27a). This does not negate the need for biblical teaching, but emphasizes that we do have an anointing on us to personally understand the Word of God.

She also pointed out that God’s word can be confrontational. A foundational portion of the Jewish scriptures is called the Shema. The Shema begins with the words “Hear, O Israel,:The LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deut 6:4) The word ‘hear’ or shema in the Hebrew mindset has a more complex meaning than it does in the modern translation. ‘Hear’ would mean to ‘hear and obey’. It was one idea. Hearing and obeying would be a single command. Arlene pointed out that maybe we don't like to read our Bible because we know we might be confronted. But God's word is for us and He wants to help. It is only when we open our hearts then open the bible that we are changed. “GOD rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes” (Psalm 18:24 Msg).

4)When God’s people open ourselves to the entirety of God’s word.

Arlene brought out an interesting point found in verse 3. Nehemiah preached on a platform build outside the water gate. The question is ‘why not in the temple?’. A couple of her commentators pointed out two different but thought provoking reasons. 1) the Word was more important than the temple itself and 2) God’s word must be proclaimed in the streets.

“He read it aloud from daybreak till noon" (Nehemiah 8:3a). The entirety of God’s word was proclaimed during this time – the blessings as well as the curses. We need to take in all of the word of God, within its proper context. As Christians we can sometimes be drawn to edifying and uplifting portions of the Word, while avoiding those passages that challenge or confront us. “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:3-5). God does not point out our weakness to condemn us. Instead of hiding from our weakness, as we acknowledge them and agree with what the Word says, we can live in freedom. God IS merciful. He will only allow the consequences of disobedience to the extent that we are able to learn His way.

5)When God’s people receive God’s word with reverence and praise.

“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” (Nehemiah 8:6). In this passage, Arlene showed us how the people showed genuine reverence for the Lord. Arlene encouraged us to examine our own lives. Are we living lives that show genuine reverence for the Lord? Are we teaching by example? Are our lives free from hypocrisy? Are we living in obedience to the Lord? (See Titus 2:2-3)

Arlene differentiated between two types of praise. The first is the praise of obedience. This is something God tells us to do - not for His benefit but for ours. God doesn't need to be reminded of how great He is, we do. It is only as we lift our voices in praising Him regularly that we are filled with gratefulness. The second kind of praise is spontaneous praise. It is a reaction that rises within our spirits as God reveals himself to us. “"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40). Spontaneous praise is what we see in Nehemiah 8:6. Their actions were not commanded – they were a spontaneous response to God’s truth as Ezra opened ‘The Book’ (see Neh. 8:5). We know this because no one told them to stand up. It was spontaneous and it occure immediately after Ezra opened the Book of the Law.

6)When God’s word is rightly divided.
“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.

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. 8:7-8).

The task of the Levites was to make the word clear to those who listened. The Hebrew definition for that phrase "make clear" is to make ‘distinct or separate, or to clarify'. We are called to do the same. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). Arlene pointed out that many of us clearly know that we are to be servants but in the same way the Lord tells us we need to "correctly handle the word of truth". We have to know it for ourselves before we can teach it to others.

7)When God’s people recognize that understanding brings joy.

“'This day is sacred 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 said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The Levites calmed all the people, saying, 'Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve'“(Neh. 8:9b-11).

Arlene taught us that ‘sacred’ means to be ‘holy, distinct, set apart. A sacred time was meant to be a joyous time, a time of remembrance. Public repentance was not appropriate in this setting. The immediate reaction of the people was mourning and grief because they had come to understand God’s word. Nehemiah wanted them to see that this was a good thing. Understanding God’s word should fill us with joy.

Arlene gave us additional examples of this principle. In the Old Testament many days were set aside to commemorate God’s mercy and goodness. Passover is an example of this. The Jewish people celebrate God’s faithfulness in delivering them from bondage in Egypt. This is a sacred day yet it is filled with rejoicing. As New Testament believers we celebrate communion. In communion we rejoice in what Jesus did for us while acknowledging our own unworthiness – God’s grace!

Why were the people joyful?

“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 emphasis mine). Because the Israelites understood they were filled with joy. God’s correction brought them joy. Can we say the same?

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11).

8)When God’s people turn understanding into action.
verses 13-18. These verses we see the Israelites recognizing that they should in fact at this time be celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacles which they immediately set out to do.

We close this chapter with God's people in a midst of revival that came through the word of God as it was proclaimed in the streets. May it be with us as well.