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[a] 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.
13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month 15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.
16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. 18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly. NEHEMIAH 8:1-18 NIV
I AM REBUILT AS I REFLECT ON GOD’S WORD
To reflect is to give my unhurried attention to someone or something.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 PETER 2:2-3 NIV
REFLECTION RESTORES MY JOY
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. JEREMIAH 15:16 NIV
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. JOHN 15:11 NIV
When I open the scriptures do I expect only correction from God or joyful communion with Him?
REFLECTION REORDERS MY LIFE AROUND GOD’S STORY
Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. PSALM 119:34 NIV
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. JOHN 14:26 NIV
Reading Practice:
- Read: What does the text say?
- Reflect: What is God saying specifically to me?
- Respond: What do I need to say back to God in prayer?
- Receive: Receive from God in his loving presence what he’s calling you to take into your daily life.
My Notes
Discussion Questions
Choose a couple questions from each section to discuss and reflect on the sermon as a group:
- START HERE: What’s something you recently learned that changed the way you think or live? What about that knowledge made it become real change?
- START HERE: When life gets busy or stressful, what gets the most or best of your time and attention? How does that choice impact your overall outlook and attitude?
- KEEP GOING: Read Nehemiah 8:1-12 NIV. What do you notice about the way the people approached God's Word and the effect of God's Word on them? What made that moment so transformative?
- KEEP GOING: The people wept as they heard God's Word and experienced great joy because they understood it. What’s your typical mood as you approach time in God's Word? What do you generally expect or hope for from your time with God? What has shaped those expectations?
- KEEP GOING: Read Psalm 119:34 NIV and John 14:26 NIV. Reflection in God’s Word doesn't just give us more information, it reorders our lives around God's story. Where do you sense God inviting you to realign your priorities, habits, or perspective? What makes that difficult? What could you ask God for in order to make that change attainable?
- LIVE IT OUT: Read John 6:35 NLT slowly out loud two or three times, then walk through the reading practice from the sermon together: Read → Reflect → Respond → Receive. What did you notice as you slowed down your approach to God's Word? What would it take to continue practicing on your own this week?
- LIVE IT OUT: What's one way you’d like to give God your unhurried attention this week? How might using the reading practice allow God's Word to not only rebuild your life, but inspire you to encourage or influence (a.k.a. disciple) someone else?
