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nehemiah 8 commentary john macarthur

by Blaise Stokes Published 4 years ago Updated 2 years ago

In the words of Nehemiah 8:8, I strive “to give the sense” of it so they may truly hear God speak and, in so doing, may respond to Him. Obviously, God’s people need to understand Him, which demands knowing His Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15) and allowing that Word to dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16).

Full Answer

What is the meaning of Nehemiah 8 8?

Nehemiah 8. This feast of tabernacles was a memorial of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness, a representation of our tabernacle state in this world, and a type of the holy joy of the gospel church. The conversion of the nations to the faith of Christ is foretold under the figure of this feast ( Zec.

What does the Bible say about revival in Nehemiah 8?

Enduring Word Bible Commentary Nehemiah Chapter 8 Nehemiah 8 – The Spirit of God, Working through the Word of God, Brings Revival J. Edwin Orr defined revival as: “The Spirit of God working through the Word of God, in the lives of the people of God.” This chapter is a great example of this.

What condition does Nehemiah fulfill in turning to the Lord himself?

In turning to the Lord himself, Nehemiah fulfilled the condition of blessing, then he takes the place of the Lord's remembrancer, saying, "Remember... the Word." This is that beautiful childlike confidence which honors God, and is infinitely well pleasing in His sight.

What is the significance of Nehemiah in the Old Testament?

At the most critical juncture in Judah’s revitalization, God raised up Nehemiah to exercise one of the most trusted roles in the empire, the King’s cupbearer and confidant. Life under the Persian king Artaxerxes (ca. 464–423 B.C.) had its advantages for Nehemiah.

What does Nehemiah 8 mean?

What does the preacher need to communicate?

What does it mean when you attend to the hearing of the Word of God?

Study Guide for Nehemiah 8 by David Guzik - Blue Letter Bible

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture.

Nehemiah 8 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible ...

Nehemiah 8. Ezra came up out of Babylon thirteen years before Nehemiah came, yet we have here a piece of good work which he did, that might have been done before, but was not done till Nehemiah came, who, though he was not such a scholar nor such a divine as Ezra, nor such a scribe in the law of his God, yet was a man of a more lively active spirit.

Nehemiah 8 Commentary - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the ...

Nehemiah 8:9-15.THE PEOPLE COMFORTED. 9, 10. This day is holy unto the Lord . . . mourn not, nor weep--A deep sense of their national sins, impressively brought to their remembrance by the reading of the law and its denunciations, affected the hearts of the people with penitential sorrow.But notwithstanding the painful remembrances of their national sins which the reading of the law awakened ...

Nehemiah 8:1-10 – Sermon Writer

Biblical Commentary Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: These events take place about a century after the Jewish exiles were allowed to return from Babylonia to Jerusalem after a lengthy exile. Life has not been easy. The people have suffered from hostile neighbors and crop

Nehemiah 8:1-10 – Sermon Writer

Biblical Commentary Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: These events take place about a century after the Jewish exiles were allowed to return from Babylonia to Jerusalem after a lengthy exile. Life has not been easy. The people have suffered from hostile neighbors and crop

Nehemiah 8:1–18 | Preaching Source

Context of the Passage: The gathering of the people in Nehemiah 8 is different from, subsequent to, and dependent upon the gathering pictured in 7:5. Once the people were brought back (in fulfillment of God’s promise) to Jerusalem, they could be brought to

How did God work with Nehemiah?

God worked through the obedience of Nehemiah; however, He also worked through the wrongly-motivated, wicked hearts of His enemies . Nehemiah’s enemies failed, not so much as a result of the success of Nehemiah’s strategies, but because “God had brought their plot to nothing” ( 4:15 ).

When was Nehemiah written?

The book follows chronologically from Nehemiah’s first term as governor of Jerusalem ca. 445–433 B.C. ( Neh. 1–12) to his second term, possibly beginning ca. 424 B.C. ( Neh. 13 ). Nehemiah was written by Ezra sometime during or after Nehemiah’s second term, but no later than 400 B.C.

Why did God raise up Nehemiah?

At the most critical juncture in Judah’s revitalization, God raised up Nehemiah to exercise one of the most trusted roles in the empire, the King’s cupbearer and confidant. Life under the Persian king Artaxerxes (ca. 464–423 B.C.) had its advantages for Nehemiah.

Is Ezra and Nehemiah a book?

This is based on external evidence that Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one book as reflected in the LXX and Vulgate; it is also based on internal evidence such as the recurrent “hand of the LORD” theme which dominates both Ezra and Nehemiah and the author’s role as a priest-scribe.

Was the Davidic throne unoccupied?

The Davidic throne was unoccupied (cf. 2 Sam. 7:16 ), although the High-Priest was of the line of Eleazar and Phinehas (cf. Num. 25:10–13 ). God’s promise to consummate the New Covenant of redemption awaited the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Messiah (cf. Heb. 7–10 ).

When we are going to read and hear the word of God, must we adore God?

2. God’s mouth to the people, and they attentively hearkened to him. This was the chief business of the solemnity, and observe, (1.)

When ministers go to the pulpit, should they take their Bibles with them?

Ministers, when they go to the pulpit, should take their Bibles with them; Ezra did so; thence they must fetch their knowledge, and according to that rule they must speak and must show that they do so. See 2 Chr. 17:9 . (2.) He opened the book with great reverence and solemnity, in the sight of all the people, v. 5.

What did Ezra's humility set them on?

Though, on the first day, Ezra’s humility had set them on his right hand and on his left, as teachers with him ( v. 4, v. 7 ), yet now, they being by trial made more sensible than ever of their own deficiencies and his excellencies, on the second day their humility set them at Ezra’s feet, as learners of him. 2.

When we are going to read and hear the word of God, must we adore God?

2. God's mouth to the people, and they attentively hearkened to him. This was the chief business of the solemnity, and observe, (1.)

What language did the leaders of the Persian Empire speak?

Genesis 27:29; Genesis 37:10; Genesis 49:8 et al.). Not only did the leaders read the Word of God, they also translated it from the Hebrew language into Aramaic, the common language of the Persian Empire.

What does Ezra and Nehemiah say about the sacrifices?

Ezra and Nehemiah remind ed the people to send portions from the part of the sacrifices that they could eat to those who had nothing (8:10). God’s Word should produce compassion in our hearts for the needy. His salvation is “to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” ( Titus 2:14 ).

What does Kidner say about the Pentateuch?

Kidner (p. 104) refutes the liberal view, that the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses) was the creation of a recent redactor who pieced together the older materials. He says that what Ezra read from was obviously not a new manifesto, but rather “the foundation articles of the faith, laid down at the exodus.”.

What is the hallmark of Puritanism?

Intense veneration for Scripture, as the living word of the living God , and a devoted concern to know and do all that it prescribes, was Puritanism’s hallmark. Nehemiah 8 shows us four marks of spiritual renewal related to God’s Word: 1. For spiritual renewal, God’s people must read His Word. The people gathered and asked Ezra to bring ...

How many times does the author mention God's Word?

In Psalm 119, which extols God’s Word, nine times the author (probably Ezra) mentions how God’s Word (or some synonym for the Word) brings revival ( Ps. 119:25, 50, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156 ). If you have never done so, I’d encourage you to read through the entire Bible in the New Year.

Why did the people weep when they heard God's Word?

The people wept when they heard and understood God’s Word (8:9), because they realized how much they had sinned against God. We will see this in more detail in chapter 9. But the fact is, the more the light of God’s holy Word shines into our hearts, the more we will see areas where we do not conform to His righteousness. Spiritual renewal always involves repentance.

Who was Amon's son?

Amon’s son, Josiah, began to seek the Lord when he was 16 and to institute spiritual reforms. Then Hilkiah the priest found a copy of God’s law and Josiah called the nation to repentance ( 2 Chron. 34:14 ). Revival ensued because God’s Word was obeyed.

What happened during the Reformation?

The same thing happened during the Reformation, which at its heart was a revival of God’s Word. The Roman Catholic Church had neglected the Word. Priests were the only ones with access to it, and most of them were ignorant of its contents.

When was Nehemiah written?

Nehemiah was written by Ezra sometime during or after Nehemiah’s second term, but no later than 400 B.C. Background and Setting. True to God’s promise of judgment, He brought the Assyrians and Babylonians to deliver His chastisement upon wayward Judah and Israel.

What is the second theme of the book of Nehemiah?

A second major theme, the obedience of Nehemiah , is explicitly referred to throughout the book due to the fact that the book is based on the memoirs or first person accounts of Nehemiah. God worked through the obedience of Nehemiah; however, He also worked through the wrongly-motivated, wicked hearts of His enemies.

Why did God raise up Nehemiah?

At the most critical juncture in Judah’s revitalization, God raised up Nehemiah to exercise one of the most trusted roles in the empire, the King’s cupbearer and confidant. Life under the Persian king Artaxerxes (ca. 464–423 B.C.) had its advantages for Nehemiah.

How long did it take Judah to build the walls of Jerusalem?

In spite of opposition from without and heartbreaking corruption and dissension from within, Judah completed the walls of Jerusalem in only 52 days (6:15), experienced revival after the reading of the law by Ezra (8:1ff.), and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (8:14ff.; ca. 445 B.C.).

Was the Davidic throne unoccupied?

The Davidic throne was unoccupied (cf. 2 Sam. 7:16 ), although the High-Priest was of the line of Eleazar and Phinehas (cf. Num. 25:10–13 ). God’s promise to consummate the New Covenant of redemption awaited the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Messiah (cf. Heb. 7–10 ). Historical and Theological Themes.

Does the New Testament quote Nehemiah?

New Testament writers do not quote Nehemiah. Author and Date. Though much of this book was clearly drawn from Nehemiah’s personal diaries and written from his first person perspective (1:1–7:5; 12:27–43; 13:4–31), both Jewish and Christian traditions recognize Ezra as the author.

What does Nehemiah 8 mean?

Nehemiah 8. – The Spirit of God, Working through the Word of God, Brings Revival. J. Edwin Orr defined revival as: “The Spirit of God working through the Word of God, in the lives of the people of God.”. This chapter is a great example of this.

What does the preacher need to communicate?

They gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading: The preacher must communicate the sense of the passage of Scripture, and not his own agenda or favorite personal topics. The people must leave understanding God’s Word better, not understanding the preacher’s opinions better.

What does it mean when you attend to the hearing of the Word of God?

i. If you attend to the hearing of the Word of God, it is evidence the Spirit of God is working with you. But it is still important to cooperating with that work and to not resist it. We need to cooperate and flow with the work of God’s Spirit if the Word of God is going to do its full work in us. b.

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

  • True to God’s promise of judgment, He brought the Assyrians and Babylonians to deliver His chastisement upon wayward Judah and Israel. In 722 B.C. the Assyrians deported the 10 northern tribes and scattered them all over the then known world (2 Kin. 17). Several centuries later, ca. 605–586 B.C., God used the Babylonians to sack, destroy, and nearly depopulate Jerusalem (2 K…
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Historical and Theological Themes

  • Careful attention to the reading of God’s Word in order to perform His will is a constant theme. The spiritual revival came in response to Ezra’s reading of “the Book of the Law of Moses” (8:1). After the reading, Ezra and some of the priests carefully explained its meaning to the people in attendance (8:8). The next day, Ezra met with some of the fathers of the households, the priests…
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Interpretive Challenges

  • First, since much of Nehemiah is explained in relationship to Jerusalem’s gates (cf. Neh. 2, 3, 8, 12), one needs to see the map “Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s Day” for an orientation. Second, the reader must recognize that the time line of chapters 1–12 encompassed about one year (445 B.C.), followed by a long gap of time (over 20 years) after Neh. 12 a...
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Outline

  1. Nehemiah’s First Term as Governor (1:1–12:47)
  2. Nehemiah’s Second Term as Governor (13:1–31)
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