A Great Congregation
Nehemiah 8:1-18
Introduction
All Kinds of People Gathered there
Worshipping Saint
Wayward Saint
Wondering Stranger
Unified Congregation v 1
“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.”
Supporting Congregation v 1, 4
“And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.”
They supported their preacher, Ezra was a man of God
Trustworthy Ezra 7:13-26
Prayerful Ezra 8:21
Faith Ezra 8:22
A Reformer Ezra 10:25
Honored God’s Word Ezra 7:10
By Study Ezra 7:10
By Reading it publicly Neh 8:2-8
By Transcribing it Ezra 7:11
God craving & God Fearing Congregation v 1
Listened intently to God’s Word v 8
“And Ezra 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 up:”
Feared God’s word v 5
Reverenced God’s Word v 5
Read God’s Word v 8
“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”
Wept at the reading of God’s word v 9
“And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.”
Searched the Scriptures v 14
“And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:”
Went Forth v 16a
“So the people went forth”
Worshipping Congregation v 6
“And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”
People praised God and said AMEN v 6
Lifted up Holy Hands v 6
Humble Congregation v 6
Happy & Fellowshipping Congregation v 10-12
“10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. 12And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.”
Obedient Congregation v 16
“So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim”
Faithful Congregation v 18
“Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.”
