4 LESSONS PART 3
Nehemiah
Part 3
By: Hans Hofman
The place of the Word
Another characteristic in the rebuilding of the wall and in building up the people
is the important central place of the Word of God.
If we look as in the previous lesson at Nehemiah, we see a man who is instructed
in the Word of God. A man in whose life the God of heaven and the Word have the
first place. His life is based on God’s Word. In everything that he undertook we
can see his relationship with God and His Word. We also see that “…everything
that he undertook had success.”(cf. Ps 1:1-3)
In Nehemiah’s life we can see that he used God’s Word as a lamp for every step
he took and that the Word lit his path Cf. Ps 119:105. In his decisions and his
answers he consulted God. His spirit was in tune with the God’s Spirit.
In Neh 6:1 we read that there was no breach in the wall any more. Only the gates
remained to be installed.
The opponents were aware of the completion of the wall. Immediately they changed
their attacking strategy. They wanted to lure Nehemiah away from his task by
inviting him to attend a conference in the Ono valley.
Now the name says enough: “ O no.” But Nehemiah sends a clear message to
them. “ I am busy with a great work and cannot come. Why should I leave my
work to come to you?”
Four times they try to lure him into the same trap, and he gives them the same
answer each time (6:4)
Nehemiah gives us here a clear example of constancy and perseverance by not
allowing himself to be distracted from his task. Neither by misleading nor by pious
invitation. He stuck firmly to his vision and carried out his task. In the same way
we must learn more and more to distinguish the body of Christ and His
assignments from the sham body and the misleading plans of Satan.
For Satan likes to appear as an angel of light, but his aim is to mislead God’s
children, to rob them and to kill them.
Like Nehemiah then we too must stand fast in the Lord and His Word and walk
in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is also the approach which we must make
to God’s Word.
Holding fast. Not letting ourselves be distracted or misled. Satan always wants
to steal God’s Word from our hearts, so that he can disrupt our relationship with
God, weaken us and finally destroy us spiritually.
Whenever than you are busy with the Word, whether it be reading it, preaching it,
teaching it, or whatever other form of building up you are doing, don’t let yourself
be lured away but give the same answer that Nehemiah gave to his opponents,
“I am busy with a great work and cannot come…”
In Nehemiah 8 we read about the reading of the Law. We also see here EZRA
the expert on the scriptures. He brought out the book of the Law of Moses, which
the Lord had given to Israel.
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women
and all who could hear with understanding…..and he read from it facing the
square….and Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit…. and opened the book
in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened
it all the people stood….so that the people understood the reading. Neh 8:2-8
- He opened the Word of God for the people
- We also read “in the sight of all the people
- Place: outside on a square
- The people stood as the Word was read.
What can we learn from this? - The priest Ezra had a specific ministry.
That the Word of God was not a subject of discussion, but was accepted into a
central place among the people and was clearly read out to them and where
necessary was explained to them so that everyone could understand it.
There was respect for the Word of God – this is evident from the fact that the
people stood to listen to it. ( This doesn’t mean that somebody who sits to listen to
it does not show respect, but nevertheless…)
In Nehemiah 9 we read again about the descendents of Israel and the reading of the
Word…In verse 2 we see that the people sanctify themselves and separate
themselves from those who were not descendants of Israel…
Again they came before the face of the Lord standing and the Word of God was
read again. This they did for a quarter of the day. For a further quarter they
confessed their sins and worshipped the Lord their God (verse 3)
In 8:10-11 Ezra spoke and the Levites helped the people to understand the Word
and they indicated that that day was to be a holy day for the Lord so that they
shouldn’t be sad or weep. (In the meantime the people had burst into tears at the
reading of the Word). No, instead of mourning they should eat good things and drink
sweet drinks and share with those for whom nothing had been prepared.
The instruction to God’s people here was to rejoice in the Lord and to celebrate that
spiritually and physically by eating delicious things and being joyful “…. for the
joy of the Lord is your strength (9:11)
In 8:6 we also read that the gathering was a festive occasion to God’s glory. “And
when he opened the book all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the
great God; and all the people answered ‘Amen, Amen’ lifting up their hands…”
It is therefore a normal Biblical practice to raise your hands to God and as answer to
the Word to say an audible Amen (so be it).
- What does Jesus say about the Word in John 5:24?……………………………
- And what does He say in Jn 15:7?…………………………………………………
3. In Jn 8:47 we see Jesus drawing a clear dividing line. How can we know
whether we really belong to God or not?…………………………………….........
- What does Peter say in 1 Pet 1:25?……………………………………….....…..
5. What had the believers in Phildelphia kept, even though they had little
strength? (Rev 3:8)……………………………………………………………………
- What was proclaimed to the people in Nehemiah’s day? 13:1………………….
7. De prophet Isaiah in Isa 55:8-11 gives a clear illustration of what the Word
really is and how it works.Through Isaiah God says that His Word is His
thoughts. So God uses His Spirit and His workers to sow His thoughts in
us and he waters our hearts(prepares them with His Spirit and His thoughts)
so that His word comes to life and develops so that it in turn brings forth in us
fruit, seed and food.
We can depend on God’s promises for this. Which promises do we read in
Isa 55:11 and12?………………………………………………………………………
8. God’s Word then will not return to Him empty (i.e. without achieving its aim).
But it will accomplish that for which it goes forth. So God sends His Word
toachieve a purpose in our lives and those of others. One of these purposes
we find in Jn 17:17. What does this verse say?
…………………………………………………………………………………….....…
- What is the purpose of God’s Word for our lives according to Jn 17:17
...........................................................................................……………….
The truth is part of our armour of faith Eph 6:14. In Jn 17:17 we see what the truth
in the life of a child of God can mean, in other words our sanctification.
Truth therefore makes us clean and pure in Christ. Jesus and His Word and
together the truth. Nehemiah had the word read to the people and had the people
taught from the Word. The Word of God took a central place in his day among his
people. And the people learned to keep certain rules of living and there was a
clear strategy to protect the people. This produced unity among God’s people.
We see Nehemiah setting watchmen, who besides their ordinary jobs also had the
task of defending the wall and the city. Additionally there were other people with
all sorts of functions, but all with the same final aim – to be united as God’s people
within a protected community. ( Of course in the light of “where the Holy Ghost is,
is freedom” thus with healthy spiritual growth and room to develop. But where each
member takes up his/her own place and carries out his/her own task.)
In the same way Christ’s fellowship of the church, just like Nehemiah and his
workers, needs Spirit-filled leaders with good leadership abilities, who will lead the
church of Christ to the objective which He indicates through Paul in Eph 4:11-16. etc.
Here we see clear guidelines for living in the power of His Word.
(See also 1Tim 3:1-16) If we divert from this path then the consequence will be a
church whose members will never all grow to be healthy and which will lack unity
in Christ.
If we follow these guidelines we can become people who in a close relationship with
God serve Him and bring the people closer to Him. We will not become domineering
manipulators, but servants who together with all other spirit-filled brothers and sisters
seek to build up and protect the fellowship/the house/the city/the nation.
As such people we are partly responsible for the growth to adulthood – in Christ
of God’s people. “ Partly” because each individual Christian is responsible to feed
him/herself with God’s Word and to seek the Lord in prayer and listen to Him to be
able to fulfil the tasks God gives him/her in relationship with Him.
There must therefore always be a triangular relationship between child of God and
others (including leaders) on the base line and Christ at the apex.
If both members are in tune with Christ and His will both will grow closer to each
other and to Christ.
In the first church fellowship in Acts 2:41-47 and 4:32-37 we find people who were
learly converted and who obviously had no difficulty in daily seeking fellowship with
God and the other members of the community. They continued in the teaching
of the apostles, evangelists, teachers and pastors Acts 2:42 Cf Eph 4:11 (Philip
was clearly used as an evangelist, but Paul more as an apostle and teacher, etc.)
In the first church the members were also obviously delivered from selfishness.
Acts 4:32. Their own self had died with Christ and had been buried in baptism (2:41)
and they had been resurrected in Christ to a new life! (Col 2:11,12)
Just as the body needs daily food, so our spirits also need daily nourishment.
Unfortunately it is often only the body (stomach) and our feelings and emotions
which are fed and the spirit remains underfed or shut out.. God is Spirit and He
wants to have fellowship with our spirits. A born-again child of God can make
contact with God, for God is Spirit and He wants to be worshipped in spirit and truth.
It is in this that believers need to be brought up in Biblical teaching and in being
actively involved in the life of the church of Jesus Christ. (This last point of course
means more than only going to church on Sunday. People must be trained in
pastoral work, in evangelism, in teaching etc See also 1 Cor 14:26, Eph 4,
1 Tim 2:2)
In Nehemiah we see that they worked at discipline and a clear division of the tasks.
Where this is led by the Holy Spirit and everyone willingly takes up his/her place,
then a powerful, growing church will result, where members feel safe and
spiritually at home. A homebase from which members are also prepared to go out,
for instance to the missionfield close by or far off.
Three Biblical aspects are essential for this:
A Jesus Christ is Head and Chief shepherd of the church
B A clear vision (aim: where do we want to go as a church and which strategy
do we employ?)
C Good teaching, led by the Holy Spirit and in cooperation (consultation) with
a team.
(an army without aim, without strategy and without unity within the army and
the leadership is powerless.)