Nehemiah 8

Bring the Book!

• Whatever the people did here, they did all together as “one man”.

• The people had done the work of the Lord, and now they wanted the word of the Lord.

• Only the Book can cleanse the mind, purify the soul, strengthen the heart, satisfy our deepest hunger, and bring us into communion with God.

• “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father will he give him a stone?” neither may we give hungry Christians the stones of human philosophy when they are calling for the bread of life.

• The book is the word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

An attentive congregation

• We need attentive people to do the word of God and do it.

• A preacher cannot succeed unless he can “give the sense, and cause the people to understand.

Strength through joy

• The joy had a firm foundation, the word of God

• Joy is important “whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psalm 50:23)

• The joy was conditional, 1) weeping of repentance (8:9); 2) obedience coupled with faith (8:10).

• The joy is lasting

• The joy is healthful: “A merry heart doeth good like medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

• The joy of the Lord can be ours now: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace. . .” (Gal. 5:22)

• The booths were a memorial (Lev. 23:42-43), we have a memorial in the Lord’s supper.