Joy at Hearing God's WordJoy at Hearing God's Word

Nehemiah 8:5-6, Ezra opened the Nehemiah 8:5-6, Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him book. All the people could see him because he was standing above because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the them; and as he opened it, the

people all stood up. Ezra praised the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the LORD, the great God; and all the

people lifted their hands and people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshipped they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the the LORD with their faces to the

ground.ground.

The people were thirsty for The people were thirsty for God’s Word and drank it inGod’s Word and drank it in

We know that from three cluesWe know that from three clues

Clue #1 – the people's Clue #1 – the people's enduring attentiveness (vs 3)enduring attentiveness (vs 3)

From daybreak till noon! (5 or 6 From daybreak till noon! (5 or 6 hours)hours)

Clue #2 – the people stood as Clue #2 – the people stood as they listened (vs 5)they listened (vs 5)

Standing while the Bible was read Standing while the Bible was read was a sign of respect for the Word was a sign of respect for the Word of Godof God

Clue #3 – the people were Clue #3 – the people were affected by the Word of Godaffected by the Word of God

They were moved They were moved to tears of to tears of repentance (vs 9)repentance (vs 9)

Later they were Later they were moved to joy as moved to joy as they understood they understood the words of the the words of the Bible (vs 12)Bible (vs 12)

Why were the people so eager Why were the people so eager to listen to the Bible?to listen to the Bible?

1. Because there was a 1. Because there was a spiritual vacuum in their lives spiritual vacuum in their lives

and they knew itand they knew it

Knowing that reading Scripture Knowing that reading Scripture helps to strengthen our contact with helps to strengthen our contact with God, the people requested Ezra to God, the people requested Ezra to read from the book (vs 1)read from the book (vs 1)

2. God desired a fresh 2. God desired a fresh relationship with his peoplerelationship with his people

The Bible is God's Word of truth to The Bible is God's Word of truth to us to help us understandus to help us understand

ourselvesourselves this worldthis world the purpose and meaning of lifethe purpose and meaning of life forgiveness and salvation by grace forgiveness and salvation by grace

alone alone what is coming after this lifewhat is coming after this life

Contrast OT and NT Contrast OT and NT relationship with Godrelationship with God

Old Testament Old Testament Relationship Relationship

revolved around the revolved around the Law (Torah)Law (Torah)

New TestamentNew Testament Relationship Relationship

revolved around revolved around Jesus ChristJesus Christ

John 1:17 “The law John 1:17 “The law was given through was given through Moses; grace and Moses; grace and truth came through truth came through Jesus Christ“Jesus Christ“

It is the Bible that It is the Bible that leads us to Jesusleads us to Jesus

The Bible, as the powerful The Bible, as the powerful Word of God, is too important Word of God, is too important

to ignoreto ignore Make a regular practice Make a regular practice

of reading a portion of of reading a portion of Scripture at least once Scripture at least once a day, e.g., after a a day, e.g., after a meal, or first thing in meal, or first thing in the morningthe morning

Bible Study groupsBible Study groups Sunday morning Sunday morning

worshipworship

May each of us have a hunger May each of us have a hunger and thirst for a fresh and thirst for a fresh

relationship with God which is relationship with God which is possible as we find Jesus possible as we find Jesus

through the living Word of Godthrough the living Word of God