WEBVTT 00:00:00.260 --> 00:00:09.080 I'd like you to open your Bibles again, the book of Nehemiah chapter 8 on page 492, and 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:15.160 I would like to draw your attention particularly to words which we find at the end of verse 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:21.859 3, the last sentence of that verse, and all the people listened attentively to the book 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:24.219 of the law. 00:00:24.219 --> 00:00:36.479 So, the scene that is presented to us here in this chapter is of life in Jerusalem in 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:39.500 the mid-fifth century before Christ. 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:48.140 And what we have recorded for us in this chapter is an example of a congregation engaging with 00:00:48.140 --> 00:00:50.879 the Bible as it is read in public. 00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:58.219 The book of the law here is the Torah, or the five books of Moses, the Genesis, Exodus, 00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:00.740 Leviticus, and Numbers. 00:01:01.740 --> 00:01:06.879 And what we have here is an example of reading scripture publicly out loud. 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:12.680 Now, reading scripture when we gather together to worship is very important. 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:19.260 Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor in the early church in Ephesus, and he said, devote 00:01:19.260 --> 00:01:26.260 yourself to the public reading of scripture as well as to preaching and to teaching. 00:01:27.880 --> 00:01:33.880 And so, an important element in any act of worship is the public reading of scripture. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:40.980 Now, sometimes, occasionally, I have attended churches where the only scripture that is read 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:45.859 is the text on which the preacher is going to focus. 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:53.260 But in our tradition, our Presbyterian Reformed tradition, here in Scotland and throughout other 00:01:53.260 --> 00:01:58.960 countries in the world, the reading of scripture has a place in its own right in the service. 00:01:59.460 --> 00:02:02.280 And it's very important that we preserve that. 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:05.700 And we see that the pattern for that in this chapter. 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:11.939 Now, Ezra ensured that the scripture was not only read, but that it was explained. 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:18.580 We read that the Levites read from the book of the law of God, making it clear and giving 00:02:18.580 --> 00:02:22.520 the meaning so that the people understood in verse 8. 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:26.520 So, we find Ezra was helped by the Levites. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:29.099 There was a large number of people present. 00:02:29.480 --> 00:02:31.199 They were gathered in the open air. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:36.719 And the service went on for six hours, which is slightly longer than we're accustomed to 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:38.419 here in Buclue. 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:43.039 Probably, the scriptures would have been read in sections. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:49.099 And between the scripture readings, the 13 Levites present, named in verse 7, would explain 00:02:49.099 --> 00:02:50.339 the meaning to the people. 00:02:51.019 --> 00:02:53.560 Perhaps the people would have been gathered in smaller groups. 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:58.419 So, let's for a moment try to imagine the scene that is presented to us here. 00:02:58.419 --> 00:03:00.739 This was an important event. 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:04.679 It's an example of a congregation engaging with scripture. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:11.839 Now, one of the problems that the churches in the Western world face is that Christians 00:03:11.839 --> 00:03:17.239 are not engaging with the Bible as they used to. 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:25.079 And in contrast with the church, the churches in Africa, the churches in Asia, the churches 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:32.740 in Europe and in North America, we don't really take as much interest in the scriptures in 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:35.740 terms of reading them privately and personally. 00:03:36.420 --> 00:03:43.700 Remember the first time I went to Ghana many years ago, the person who greeted me told me 00:03:43.700 --> 00:03:49.300 that he was brought up on a phrase which said, NBNB. 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:52.360 And I said, what does NBNB mean? 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:54.900 He said, no Bible, no breakfast. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:04.840 And there's a kind of biblical anorexia which is blighting the churches here in the Western 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:05.160 world. 00:04:05.260 --> 00:04:11.680 And so, quite a considerable amount of research has been done into why Christians are not 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:14.300 regularly reading and meditating scripture. 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:19.259 And that research has been helpful. 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:25.879 But as far as I'm aware, very little of any research has been done in how we engage with 00:04:25.879 --> 00:04:27.560 the Bible as we gather together. 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:33.580 A lot of research has been done of what we do as individuals, what we do when we close the 00:04:33.580 --> 00:04:35.240 door, when we're in our homes. 00:04:35.939 --> 00:04:42.939 But how do we interact with the public reading of scripture, the explanation of scripture, as 00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:44.459 we gather together here. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:49.360 It's difficult to know, really, how we do that. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:57.600 But I think Ezra will help us to discover, because what we find here is that there are 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:02.740 six key features of this public reading of scripture. 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:12.120 So Ezra provides us with a template which will help us to evaluate how we respond today and 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:17.160 each Sunday to the reading and preaching of scripture in public worship. 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:25.639 Now the scene that is presented to us here is described in verse 3 in summary and then 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:28.720 in detail in verses 4 to 12. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:36.560 And in this description we find Ezra's open-air congregation interacting with the Word of God 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:41.839 to its public reading and exposition in six key ways. 00:05:42.800 --> 00:05:50.199 And this event, I believe, is recorded in the Bible in order to challenge us to examine the 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:56.079 way in which we are responding to God's Word this morning and every time we gather here in 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:56.480 church. 00:05:56.480 --> 00:06:04.259 As we now go on to note briefly the six key features of Ezra's congregation, let's evaluate 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:08.200 whether here today we are reflecting them. 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:11.080 Let's examine each of these in turn. 00:06:11.180 --> 00:06:16.420 The first is that we find that Ezra's congregation was in step. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:26.819 The phrase all the people occurs ten times in twelve verses, in the first twelve verses of this chapter. 00:06:28.220 --> 00:06:32.420 And so we find the congregation standing before God's Word as a community. 00:06:33.300 --> 00:06:35.200 All the people were together. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:37.759 They were not a series of individuals. 00:06:39.020 --> 00:06:41.319 They were a community. 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:49.819 They were anticipating Paul's metaphor of the church as a body in which each member of the body interacts with the others. 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:56.079 So that as we gather here this morning, God is calling us not simply to come as individuals. 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:59.279 He's calling us to come as a family. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:01.699 He's calling us to come as a body. 00:07:02.459 --> 00:07:06.740 He's calling us to be concerned not only about what we think and how we react, 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:10.439 but how those around us are responding to God's Word. 00:07:10.439 --> 00:07:15.579 So that we pray not only for ourselves, but we pray for them as well. 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:19.680 And so the first question we need to ask ourselves this morning, 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:23.220 are we conscious of being here as a body of people? 00:07:24.259 --> 00:07:26.720 Or are we simply here as a bunch of individuals? 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:30.800 There's a lot of individualism in our society. 00:07:32.220 --> 00:07:34.319 And perhaps we need to counteract that 00:07:34.319 --> 00:07:40.099 by becoming much, much more conscious of the communal dimension of spiritual worship. 00:07:40.719 --> 00:07:43.759 God has called us to worship together 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.680 as different instruments in an orchestra. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:50.420 They all blend together. 00:07:50.579 --> 00:07:53.980 And there's a sense in which we are being called to worship the Lord 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:58.560 like the musicians in an orchestra blend together. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:03.519 So we need to be in step with one another. 00:08:04.339 --> 00:08:11.680 The second feature is that Ezra's congregation responded on cue to the call to worship. 00:08:12.180 --> 00:08:16.480 Read at the beginning of verse 6 that Ezra praised the Lord, the great God. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:19.199 Now in effect, that was a call to worship. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:25.180 Similar to the verses that James reads before, 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:28.060 calling us to worship the Lord each week. 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:30.639 Or the verse we used this morning from Psalm 100. 00:08:31.159 --> 00:08:32.500 Sing to the Lord all the earth. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:33.980 Worship the Lord with gladness. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.580 Come before him with joyful songs. 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:40.899 Now we find that not only did Ezra praise the Lord 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:42.939 as the great God, 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:45.539 but immediately the people responded and said, 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:46.360 Amen, Amen. 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:48.740 They were ready to go. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.180 They wanted to be involved. 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:53.300 They wanted to respond. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:59.820 The word Amen is repeated for emphasis 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:03.280 to show just how keen the congregation was. 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:06.400 And this is a reminder that 00:09:06.400 --> 00:09:11.700 we are all active partners in the worship of God. 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:14.900 It's not just that the person who's leading the worship 00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:17.480 is active and the rest of the people are passive. 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:21.539 God is calling us all to be active, 00:09:22.060 --> 00:09:26.480 to be participants rather than spectators in the house of God. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:30.300 He's calling us to say our Amen. 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:32.720 We don't need to say it out loud. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:34.440 You can if you wish. 00:09:35.300 --> 00:09:37.720 But we should be saying that in our heart. 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:41.420 Amen really comes from the Hebrew root to believe. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:44.699 And it's an expression of faith. 00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:49.959 And so as soon as Ezra said the equivalent of let us worship God, 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:51.159 the people say Amen, Amen. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:53.879 They want to get involved. 00:09:54.459 --> 00:09:56.419 They come in on cue. 00:09:56.419 --> 00:09:59.819 And it's so important that we do that. 00:10:01.319 --> 00:10:04.240 Someone who is perhaps reading the news 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:07.679 or doing a program on video 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:12.079 will find symbols such as we see on the screen at the moment. 00:10:12.719 --> 00:10:14.139 And when he or she see that, 00:10:14.199 --> 00:10:15.419 they've got to be ready to go. 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:17.339 They've got to come in. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:19.980 And that's important. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.420 That's so important before we come to church 00:10:22.420 --> 00:10:24.180 that we prepare, that we come prepared 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:27.600 and that we're ready to jump in, as it were, 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:28.960 ready to participate, 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:33.240 ready to say our Amen. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:34.820 Amen. 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.000 So again, we need to ask ourselves this question. 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:41.280 How keen are we to become active participants 00:10:41.280 --> 00:10:44.220 in the service from the very beginning? 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:48.420 And so often we tend to think of the beginning of the service 00:10:48.420 --> 00:10:49.320 as preliminaries. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:52.580 But in a sense, perhaps they are. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:55.500 But the service is important from the very beginning, 00:10:56.019 --> 00:10:57.840 from the moment that the preacher says, 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:58.860 let us worship God, 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:01.160 or quotes a verse calling us to worship. 00:11:02.160 --> 00:11:04.040 We are called to participate. 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:05.220 We're called to respond. 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:08.399 We're called to get involved. 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:13.279 The third feature of Ezra's congregation 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:16.339 is that we find it was all ears. 00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:18.839 We read in verse 3, 00:11:19.299 --> 00:11:20.459 in the second part of the verse, 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.419 all the people listened attentively 00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:24.919 to the book of the law. 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:28.220 They were eager to hear the reading 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:29.839 and to understand what it means 00:11:29.839 --> 00:11:31.259 and implies for them. 00:11:32.419 --> 00:11:33.919 This explanation was given 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:35.179 not only to the people, 00:11:35.299 --> 00:11:36.299 but also to those 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:38.919 who were able to understand that as children. 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.240 And they were taking, 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:45.019 they were in part of this open air service. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:48.259 The people wanted to understand 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:49.719 what the reading meant 00:11:49.719 --> 00:11:52.620 and what it implied for their lives. 00:11:53.939 --> 00:11:56.439 Remember how Jesus tells us 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:59.139 that we need to consider carefully 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:00.279 how we listen, 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:02.059 how we hear. 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:04.339 And that's a word, 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:05.639 surely for us today. 00:12:05.739 --> 00:12:07.500 It's so easy for us to drop off to sleep, 00:12:08.439 --> 00:12:09.599 metaphorically at least. 00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:12.619 It's so easy for us to lose attention. 00:12:13.979 --> 00:12:16.659 We need to listen carefully 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:18.500 because God is speaking. 00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:22.619 God is speaking when the scriptures are read 00:12:22.619 --> 00:12:23.599 and when they're expanded. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.579 But we hear as we listen. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:29.019 If we're not listening, 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:30.620 we won't hear. 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:34.939 Just as in this atmosphere of this church 00:12:34.939 --> 00:12:36.199 there are many radio signals 00:12:36.199 --> 00:12:37.039 passing at the moment 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:38.059 that we're not receiving 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:40.840 because we don't have a receiver. 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:43.439 Or we have a receiver, 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:44.399 it's not switched on. 00:12:45.799 --> 00:12:46.559 And it's like that. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.639 God is speaking 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:48.939 as his word is proclaimed, 00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.579 as his word is read and proclaimed. 00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:54.460 And we need to be ready to receive it. 00:12:55.019 --> 00:12:56.039 We need to be switched on, 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:56.439 as it were, 00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:58.240 and ask God to give us that faith 00:12:58.240 --> 00:12:59.000 which will say, 00:12:59.819 --> 00:13:01.039 yes, Lord, speak, 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:04.000 for your servant is listening. 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:08.019 So the church is an acoustic community 00:13:08.699 --> 00:13:11.399 and a community that listens, 00:13:11.579 --> 00:13:12.939 that hears the word of God. 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.860 The reformers said that 00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:16.039 the great mark of the church 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:18.059 was not only the preaching of God's word 00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:20.279 but the hearing of God's word. 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:23.559 And so for a church to be the church, 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:26.000 not only must the gospel be preached, 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:27.360 it must also be heard. 00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.360 And it's so important that those of us 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:32.399 who spend most of the time 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.300 in church in the pews, 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:35.740 I now do, 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.220 that we are switched on, 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.200 that we're listening 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.960 to what God is saying to us. 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:46.259 The fourth feature of Ezra's congregation 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:49.960 is that they are awestruck 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:52.379 by the Lord's presence 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:53.980 in their midst. 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:56.100 We read in verse 6 00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:58.340 that after responding with their amens, 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:01.139 they bowed down and worshipped the Lord 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.960 with their faces to the ground. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.759 They became conscious 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.560 that God was present with them, 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:10.840 that God was in their midst. 00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.600 As in Corinth, 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.759 centuries later, 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:15.879 any stranger 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.460 entering the square 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.560 before the water gate 00:14:18.560 --> 00:14:20.340 would feel compelled 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:21.160 to explain, 00:14:21.280 --> 00:14:21.920 to exclaim, 00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.800 as Paul said, 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.960 God is really 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:26.259 among you. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.139 And our great desire 00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:30.879 as we come to worship God 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.180 is that God 00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:33.259 would reveal himself 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:33.940 to us 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:36.040 and that we would become conscious 00:14:36.040 --> 00:14:37.480 of the presence of God. 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:40.800 This church is the house of God. 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.220 Only when God's word 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:45.039 is being read and proclaimed 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.120 and when his people are at prayer 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.960 that it becomes the house of God 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:51.480 and we are here as God's guests 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.519 and he wants us to hear 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:54.700 what he is saying to us. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.720 And as we hear him, 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:01.800 we are struck 00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:03.420 by his majesty, 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.080 by his greatness, 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:07.000 by his 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.419 holiness. 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.860 And again, 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:13.600 we ask ourselves 00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:14.340 this question 00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:16.519 as we come to church, 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:18.659 do we ask and expect 00:15:18.659 --> 00:15:20.279 to have a sense, 00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:21.460 to experience a sense 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.019 of God's 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.820 presence? 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.039 In church, 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:29.639 the 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:32.419 screen, as it were, 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.279 we call it a screen 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.500 between time and eternity 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.279 is very thin. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:38.199 And here in the house 00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:38.740 of God, 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.220 as God's word 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:41.360 is read and expanded, 00:15:42.459 --> 00:15:43.559 we can become conscious 00:15:43.559 --> 00:15:44.699 in a unique way 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.159 of the eternal reality 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.279 that surrounds us. 00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.539 We live not only 00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.079 in a universe 00:15:50.079 --> 00:15:51.139 of space and time, 00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:54.019 we live in an eternal universe 00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:56.659 that is in, 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:56.959 with, 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.519 and under 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.959 our universe 00:15:58.959 --> 00:16:00.000 of space and time. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.620 And it's so important 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.639 that we sense 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.840 that spiritual universe, 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.419 that we sense 00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:07.000 the presence 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.600 of God, 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.319 that we sense 00:16:09.319 --> 00:16:11.960 that spiritual 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.019 reality 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:14.179 of eternity. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:16.639 The fifth 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.419 feature 00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:18.240 of 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.439 Ezra's 00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:20.019 congregation 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.899 was that their 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:21.639 heartstrings 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:22.939 are pulled. 00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:24.460 We find 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.000 that the people 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:25.820 respond 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:27.540 emotionally. 00:16:28.780 --> 00:16:29.380 They weep, 00:16:29.520 --> 00:16:30.100 first of all, 00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:30.760 at their failure 00:16:30.760 --> 00:16:31.600 to meet the high 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.980 standards of the 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:33.660 scripture they're 00:16:33.660 --> 00:16:34.040 hearing, 00:16:34.520 --> 00:16:35.600 in verse 9. 00:16:36.780 --> 00:16:37.220 But then 00:16:37.220 --> 00:16:38.540 lamentation turns 00:16:38.540 --> 00:16:39.260 into joy 00:16:39.260 --> 00:16:40.040 when Nehemiah 00:16:40.040 --> 00:16:40.820 reminds them 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:42.560 that the Torah 00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:44.760 communicates grace 00:16:44.760 --> 00:16:45.780 as well as law. 00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:47.580 Let's read again 00:16:47.580 --> 00:16:48.880 verses 11 00:16:48.880 --> 00:16:50.020 and 12. 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:52.159 The Levites 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:52.840 calmed all the 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:53.439 people saying, 00:16:53.539 --> 00:16:53.980 Be still, 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.720 for this is a 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:55.460 sacred day. 00:16:56.079 --> 00:16:56.939 Do not grieve. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.259 Then all the 00:16:58.259 --> 00:16:59.000 people went away 00:16:59.000 --> 00:16:59.679 to eat and to 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:00.039 drink, 00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.159 to send portions 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:01.980 of food and to 00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:02.579 celebrate with 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.299 great joy, 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:04.559 because they now 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.279 understood the 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.920 words that had 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.299 been made known 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:08.639 to them. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:10.400 And so, 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.339 as God's word 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:11.920 was made known 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.220 to them, 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:12.819 their first 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:14.079 reaction is 00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:14.799 to weep, 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.720 because they're 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:17.139 ashamed, 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.639 because they 00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.319 become conscious 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.119 that they failed 00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:20.659 to meet the 00:17:20.659 --> 00:17:21.439 high standards 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:22.759 of God's law 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.339 and of God's 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:23.659 word. 00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:25.259 But then 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.259 Nehemiah and 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:27.019 Ezra remind 00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.419 them that the 00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:29.359 Torah mentioned 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.299 God's grace and 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.019 God's love and 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:31.759 God's mercy. 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.500 And so their 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.299 weeping turns 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.000 to joy. 00:17:36.899 --> 00:17:37.399 They learn to 00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:39.639 rejoice in the 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:41.659 goodness and 00:17:41.659 --> 00:17:43.220 grace of God. 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.419 When we worship 00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:47.960 God, when we 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.779 come to church, 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.279 it's very easy 00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:50.919 for us to put 00:17:50.919 --> 00:17:51.519 up our 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.159 sort of 00:17:52.159 --> 00:17:52.659 psychological 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.319 defenses, 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:55.319 and we have 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:56.659 a barrier 00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:59.039 between, you 00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.460 know, what 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.299 is being read, 00:18:00.399 --> 00:18:00.879 what is being 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:02.220 said, what 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:02.960 is being sung, 00:18:03.419 --> 00:18:03.919 and our 00:18:03.919 --> 00:18:04.720 inner being. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:06.819 But the 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.179 people in 00:18:08.179 --> 00:18:08.679 Ezra's 00:18:08.679 --> 00:18:09.259 congregation 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.779 obviously 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.619 lowered that 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.019 barrier. 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.159 And they were 00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:15.099 willing to allow 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.899 God's word to 00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.599 impact their 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.319 emotions, to 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:18.960 impact the 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.919 deepest part 00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:20.819 of their 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:23.059 lives, to 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:25.500 stir them, to 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.159 pierce their 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:27.919 conscience, and 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.599 to rouse the 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.019 heart. 00:18:30.919 --> 00:18:31.500 Now, sometimes 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.799 we can be 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.960 rather suspicious 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:36.259 of emotion, but 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:36.899 the Psalms are 00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:37.759 full of emotion. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:40.039 And emotion is 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.919 an element, an 00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:41.639 important element 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.059 in worship. 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.740 It's not the only 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.399 element, as we 00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:44.919 shall see, but it 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:45.740 is an important 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.220 element. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:48.000 And it's so 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.740 important that we 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:50.259 are willing to 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:50.980 allow God's 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.620 word to 00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:53.620 penetrate right 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.640 into the depths 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.779 of our 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.240 consciousness. 00:18:58.320 --> 00:18:59.460 And finally, the 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:01.320 sixth feature of 00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:02.140 Ezra's 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.080 congregation is 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:04.539 that it gets 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.279 in sync with 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.080 God's will, 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.300 because they 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:09.980 are moved to 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.740 obey the 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.440 scripture in 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:12.060 their lifestyle. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:12.740 We see this in 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.539 the second part of 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.159 the chapter in 00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:15.159 verse 13 onwards. 00:19:18.159 --> 00:19:19.839 They hear in 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.279 the word that 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.720 the Feast of 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.399 Booths or the 00:19:23.399 --> 00:19:23.779 Feast of 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:24.740 Tabernacles has 00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:25.539 to be celebrated 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.500 at that time, 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.119 and they're 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:28.659 willing to do 00:19:28.659 --> 00:19:28.920 it. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.059 They're willing 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.519 to take part in 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:37.099 this festival, an 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.619 annual festival in 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:39.159 the Jewish 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.159 religious year, 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.220 when the people 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:41.980 would live for 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.799 one week in the 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:43.740 year in temporary 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.579 shelters made 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:45.419 from tree branches. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.139 This was a 00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:48.859 reminder of the 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.799 40 years pilgrimage 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.299 of their 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:51.980 ancestors in the 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.859 wilderness following 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.599 the Exodus from 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.000 Egypt. 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.019 And we find here 00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.480 that they are 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.359 moved to obey 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.799 this command in 00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.680 verses 13 to 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.159 18. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.740 And so not 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.740 only were their 00:20:02.740 --> 00:20:04.019 emotions impacted, 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.079 but their wills 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.599 were moved. 00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.500 And they took 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.000 decisions. 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.700 And they did 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:10.299 things differently. 00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:10.839 It wasn't just 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.439 that they felt 00:20:11.439 --> 00:20:12.480 different, but 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.079 they behaved 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:13.599 differently. 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.619 And that is the 00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.419 way that God's 00:20:16.419 --> 00:20:17.480 word works. 00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:19.099 It impacts not 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:20.059 only our emotions, 00:20:20.199 --> 00:20:21.019 important as these 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.740 are, but even 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.720 more important is 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.480 that it would 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:24.459 impact our will 00:20:24.459 --> 00:20:25.759 and our 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.579 behaviors, and 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.039 that we would 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:30.279 become doers as 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.559 well as hearers 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:33.159 of God's word. 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.500 His word, as the 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.220 psalmist says in 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.959 Psalm 119, is a 00:20:36.959 --> 00:20:38.139 lamp to guide us 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.940 a delight for 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.640 our path. 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.640 So we need to 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.560 ask ourselves this 00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:44.100 question. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.600 When we leave 00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.300 this service or 00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:48.400 any other service, 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.480 what have we been 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.440 persuaded to do 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.200 differently that we 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.740 wouldn't have done 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.280 otherwise? 00:20:56.780 --> 00:20:57.620 That's a hard 00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.080 question. 00:20:59.080 --> 00:21:00.000 It's a question we 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.700 need to ask. 00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.740 Because God's word 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.800 impacts our 00:21:03.800 --> 00:21:04.320 behavior. 00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:05.900 It impacts how 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.360 we live. 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:08.219 And we need to 00:21:08.219 --> 00:21:09.079 ask ourselves that 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.539 question. 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.399 What am I going to 00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.919 do differently as 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:13.939 a result of hearing 00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:14.839 what God has said 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.500 to me today? 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.579 So we ask 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.099 ourselves the 00:21:18.099 --> 00:21:19.539 question, has 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.479 today's service or 00:21:20.479 --> 00:21:21.579 the service of any 00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.699 Sunday persuaded 00:21:22.699 --> 00:21:23.979 us to do 00:21:23.979 --> 00:21:24.799 anything differently 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:26.419 or to do 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:27.579 something you 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.259 otherwise might 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.819 not have done? 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.359 So these six 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.359 features of a 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:36.479 a congregation 00:21:36.479 --> 00:21:38.219 interacting, engaging 00:21:38.219 --> 00:21:39.299 with the word of 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.579 God. 00:21:40.839 --> 00:21:41.839 And I believe that 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:42.939 God has caused 00:21:42.939 --> 00:21:44.599 this incident to 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:46.319 be recorded in 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.699 order that we 00:21:46.699 --> 00:21:47.439 might learn from 00:21:47.439 --> 00:21:47.679 it. 00:21:48.139 --> 00:21:48.819 It's not simply 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.459 there as a 00:21:49.459 --> 00:21:50.379 historical piece, 00:21:50.439 --> 00:21:51.919 it's there to 00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:52.519 guide us. 00:21:52.679 --> 00:21:53.539 Paul tells us that 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.240 the scriptures were 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.699 given to help us 00:21:55.699 --> 00:21:56.539 and to encourage us 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.039 and to give us 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:57.339 hope. 00:21:57.339 --> 00:22:00.939 And so we might 00:22:00.939 --> 00:22:01.799 ask ourselves this 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.039 question, have we 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:04.559 been encouraged as 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.439 we've read God's 00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:06.699 word together today? 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.879 So we need to ask 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.399 ourselves the 00:22:09.399 --> 00:22:10.379 question, how are we 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:10.859 responding? 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.139 Are we as a 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:14.240 congregation reflecting 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:17.279 the six features of 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.679 Ezra's congregation? 00:22:20.119 --> 00:22:22.179 Are we conscious of 00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:23.859 being in step with 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.819 others around us? 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.740 Are we concerned 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.220 for our neighbor, 00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:28.500 for the person 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.399 sitting beside us 00:22:29.399 --> 00:22:30.099 or in front of us 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:30.779 or behind us? 00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:31.819 Are we concerned 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.779 for them as well as 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.619 for as much as for 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:35.139 ourselves? 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:39.000 Are we at the 00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.700 beginning of each 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:40.859 service ready to go? 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.939 Are we ready to 00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:43.740 come in on cue? 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.339 Are we willing to 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:47.159 say our heartfelt 00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:48.240 Amen? 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.939 Are we all ears? 00:22:52.940 --> 00:22:54.860 Are we listening 00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.820 attentively to what 00:22:55.820 --> 00:22:56.580 God is saying? 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.299 Are we all struck 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:01.380 by the glory of God? 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.940 By a sense of his 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:04.559 greatness and how 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.700 majestic and how 00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:07.460 wonderful he is that 00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.559 we bow down before 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:10.340 him and acknowledge 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:12.180 him as God. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.039 And have our 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.799 heartstrings been 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.580 pulled by being 00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:18.460 stirred to weep for 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.500 our sins and to 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.480 rejoice in God's 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.360 wonderful grace? 00:23:21.359 --> 00:23:24.559 So will we leave 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.319 this service with 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.459 our lives more in 00:23:27.459 --> 00:23:28.299 sync with God's 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:30.619 will and willing to 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:33.119 be doers as well as 00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:34.919 hearers of the word? 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.820 from... 00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.360 Thank you. 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.840 Let's try to 00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:59.539 keep it 00:23:59.740 --> 00:23:59.840 forward.