Words of Life

Nehemiah 8:1-8

1. 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.
Nehemiah 8:6

2. God speaks, making sense of the senseless.

• For hours, all who could understand listened attentively to God’s Word. 8:3
• As the people lifted their hands in praise of God and bowed down in worship the Word became clear to them. 8:6&8 God’s Word is living and active, it speaks to us bringing clarity and meaning in a world of uncertainty.
• As God’s Word became clear to the people, they became sorrowful, for they realized their own sinfulness. 8:9

3. Finding our security in God.

• The people were to celebrate by living in booths made of branches. 8:14 This is to be a visible reminder of God’s power and provision.
• As the people were faithful in this small matter they experienced very great joy. 8:17
• We are called to be obedient to God’s Word even when we don’t understand why we should.

4. Our faith must be in that which cannot be shaken. Hebrews 12:27

• Our temptation in the United States is to trust in those things that are visible.
• Our greatness comes from our heritage as a nation founded upon trust in God, for His Kingdom cannot be shaken.
• In Christ, we have no reason to fear, for we have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Hebrews 12:28