CELEBRATE THE LORD'S
GOODNESS
Nehemiah 8:13-18
Feast of Booths Restored
THE KEY TO INSIGHT;
GOD'S WORD
V:13. " Then on the second day the heads of fathers'
households of all the people, the priests and the Levites were gathered to Ezra
the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law."
A. The study of the
Word is the beginning of a renewal with
God.
1. As recorded in
verse 8 of this Chapter , The Book Of The Law was read to the
people.
a. The Word
was translated by Ezra so that it could be understood by the people
of Israel
b. After
hearing the Word, they were grieved because of their short comings.
c. There is
spiritual growth in the chastisement by the Word.
d. The Word is
having it's effect when it cause us to look at ourselves in
comparison to the
righteousness of God.
e. They were
instructed to rejoice because of the goodness of God.
f. After being
convicted by the Word to change, our grief should turn to joy
because God has
given us another chance to pursue His righteousness.
B. The reading of the
Word of God should convict us.
1. The Word
should cause us to want to follow God's commands.
2. The Word
should remind us of God's mercy and grace.
C. The leaders and
the heads of household gathered together for a deeper study and
understanding of
God's Word.
1. Parents are
responsible for the study of God's Word.
2. It is the
parents responsibility to teach the Word of God to their children.
3. Fathers should
take the lead in teaching their families.
4. Fathers must
set the examples for the family to follow.
V:14. " They found written in the law how the Lord had
commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel
A. God commands us to
reflect on our past and His goodness to us.
1. The Israelites
wondered in the desert for 40 years.
a. They lived
in tents.
b. God
commanded them to build booths as a
reminder of His love and care for
them.
2. When we
reflect on our past and how God has brought us to the present, we are
reminded of
the goodness of God.
3. If had not been for God on our side, we certainly
would not have made it to the
present.
B. God has a reason
for His planned celebrations and festivals.
1. When we set
aside a time of refection and worship, it keeps us mindful that God
is in control.
2. When we reflect
on our past and the goodness of God its gives us hope for the
future.
3. When we reflect
our past and the goodness of God, it should promote a spirit of
gratefulness.
C. Obedience to God's
commands always brings the blessing of God into our lives.
1. We are blessed
to know that God is in control.
2. We are blessed
to know that God has a plan for us.
3. We are blessed
to know that God has His eye on us.
4. People of this
great hope don't despair as the world despairs.
D. We need the regular scheduled time of celebration because
we can easily get so
wrapped up in
daily activities that there is no time for God.
1. We need this
regular scheduled time of celebration so we can take a break from
work to enjoy the fruits of our work.
2. We need this
regular scheduled time of celebration so
we can rest.
3. We need this
regular scheduled time of celebration to worship God and give
His praise.
A COMMITMENT TO CELEBRATE GOD'S GOODNESS
V:15. " So they proclaimed and circulated a
proclamation in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the
hills, and bring olive branches and wild olive branches, myrtle branches, palm
branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is
written."
A. Once you know what
God has commended you to do, you just do it!!
1. Planning a
celebration for God takes time and effort.
2. Everybody
should get involved in the preparation of the celebration.
3. Everybody has
a job to do.
4. We should get
excited planning a celebration for God.
5. Our excitement
causes others to become excited.
B. Unity is required
for a great celebration.
1. Every family
was required to go out and get the material to build their own
booth.
2. You get more
out of a celebration when you are involved in the planning and
preparation.
C. You get more out
of the celebration when you follow God's plan for the
celebration.
1. There is a
closeness to God that come from following His commands.
2. We learn to
hear God talking to us when we seek His guidance through His
Word.
3. God specified five
different types of branches that people were get to build the
booths.
a. Who can know
the reason God gave this instruction?
b. It may not
make human sense, but it is God's instructions.
c. When we do
what God requires us to do, it will make sense in the end.
d.
Eventually. God will reveal to us the reason for His instructions.
e. Even if He
does reveal the reason for His instructions, they will work to our
benefit.
V:16. " So the people went out and brought them and
made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the
courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the
square at the Gate of Ephraim."
A. During the
Christmas holidays, families decorate their homes, and buy Christmas
trees to
decorate in anticipation for the celebration of Christ birth.
1. There is a lot
of fun in getting prepared for this day of celebration.
2. A celebration
brings families together.
3. A celebration is
a reason for families to work together.
B. Jerusalem was the
center of activity for Israel
1. The Israelites
were celebrating their deliverance out of the desert into the promise
land.
a. God provided
for all their ancestors needs during the forty years in the desert.
b. The desert
was a temporary home.
c. In the desert they were constantly on the
move.
d. Jerusalem
c. Jerusalem
2. The church is
the center of Christian celebrations.
3. We should come
together often to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord
Savior Jesus
Christ.
4. Before our
relationship with Jesus, we were in the desert of a worldly life.
a. In Jesus we
have a permanent home.
b. We should
celebrate our home in Jesus.
REJOYCING IN THE LORD
V:17. " The entire assembly of those who had returned
from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The sons of Israel
A. There is joy and
there is great joy.
1. There are
celebrations and there are celebrations with great enthusiasm.
2. This renewed
celebration was with great joy, began with the study of God's
Word.
3. There is more
interest in something new than something old.
4. When the
Israelites first got into the promise land, there was greater joy in
celebrating
the Feast of Booths.
5. As time past,
the joy in the celebration faded.
B. The Israelites
had experienced a different desert while in the seventy years of
captivity in Babylon
1. It was a desert from their home town, Jerusalem
2. It was a
desert from the freedom in the promised land.
1. Having been
delivered out of captivity, they celebrated the Feast of Booths
with great
Joy.
2. Everyday is a
day of deliverance for the believer.
a. We are
constantly being delivered from the hands of the enemy.
b. God's
grace and mercy is constantly falling fresh on us.
c. We have
reasons for great rejoicing daily.
CONTINOUS STUDY OF GOD'S WORD
V:18. " He read from the book of the law of God daily,
from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days,
and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance."
A. A daily study of
God's Word keeps us in tuned to the will of God.
1. During the
feast, the Israelites studied the Word of God daily.
2. To know the
will of God, we must study God's Word daily.
B. Everyday is a day
of celebration for believers.
1. With Jesus as
our Lord and Savior we have much to celebrate.
2. We have been
saved from ourselves.
3.We have God's
daily provisions and protection.
4. We serve a God
who promises to provide all our needs.
5. We have a promised
Home with Jesus.
CELEBRATE, I SAY CELEBRATE WITH GREAT JOY!
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