Nehemiah 8: the way we approach Scripture
As we continue with this 10th lesson on Nehemiah, we examine Ezra's and the peoples' approach to the Law, and their reverence for it.
Click here for the recording of this 2/22/26 Service, and you can fast-forward to 28:03 to get to the start of the sermon.
Our text is from Nehemiah 8. 1-5
1 And all the people gathered as one person at the public square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel.
2Then Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
3And he read from it before the public square which was in front of the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
4Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left.
5Then Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
Introduction
The way we approach Scripture says much about who we are as a people
A book of incantations? To soothe nerves? A law book to prove a point? A book of moral stories?
Why this is important- because if your approach is incorrect, you won’t benefit as much as you would otherwise
Do you bring yourself under the authority of the Word? If so, how?
V1- “as one person”
It is interesting that all the exiles gathered in one place, at one time ehcad ish- as one man; there was a sense of unity
The people are the ones that asked Ezra to bring the book of the law; they wanted to hear God’s word for them
Ezra, priest and scribe (master of the law)- he studied it, practiced it himself, and taught it, Ezra 7.10
V1- “all who could listen and understand it”
The assembly of men and women- all who could
Listen- shema, hear, Dt. 6
With understanding, bin- to discern, consider, perceive, distinguish, be taught or instructed
This implies that there were those who could not- does this imply that God’s Word is inaccessible to some? If so, is the fault on some aspect of the Bible, or the reader?
V3- the reading was public, for about 6 hrs
The public square (rechov- street, plaza) in front of the water gate- everyone would have known where this was
From first light, 6a to midday, noon
They were all attentive, ozen- to give ear
Something important had to be happening in order for that many people to give that close attention for that long
V4- the pulpit
Ezra read the law from a podium constructed for that very purpose, the reading of the davar- the saying or utterance of the word from God
The pulpit explained (biblehub.com)
a raised platform or lectern in a church from which the sermon is delivered
Jesus often taught in synagogues, where there would have been a place for reading and teaching the Scriptures (Luke 4:16-20)
Paul frequently preached in synagogues and other public places, indicating the use of specific locations for the dissemination of the Gospel (Acts 13:14-16)
It symbolizes the authority of God’s Word
The preacher is responsible to be faithful to communicate biblical truth rather than his/her own thoughts
Often placed in the center of the platform to symbolize the centrality of the Word in worship
It is elevated to show it is exalted above human opinion
The reformation brought the pulpit front and center
In the contemporary church they have become less formal, resembling an elevated cocktail table at a party
V5-6 Ezra, the preacher/scribe
It is clear that Ezra was there to declare the Word
The people showed reverence toward it- they stood up
Ezra was also there to bless the Lord, to which the people gave ascent- “amen, amen!” with the raising of their hands; they then knelt and worshipped
V7-8, the Levites
They explained the law
They translated (parash- to make distinct) to give understanding to the reading of the law
How this applies to you
How you approach scripture individually, says much about you as an individual- are you under its authority?
How we as a church approach Scripture says much about us as a body of believers- what are we modeling?
The pulpit is to glorify God, evangelize the lost, and disciple the saved- the saving of the lost/healing of the saved
Who we have in the pulpit, and what happens there, matters
If we want to leave behind a generation of discipled people, they must be discipled by disciples
