REVIVAL AT THE WATER GATE

Nehemiah 8:1-18

  1. a united people waiting on God - 8:1
    1. the water gate reminds us of the Word of God
    2. a fitting place for a group of people who are seeking divine instruction
    3. God will never disappoint His saints
  2. the people cry, "bring the book" - 8:1-2
    1. some may sneer and call this bibleolatry, but it is not worship of the book
    2. it is an acknowledgment that the Author is all-wise and all-sufficient
    3. it is an acknowledgment that God’s Word can guide us through times of confusion
    4. notice that they did not seek Ezra’s opinion, nor Nehemiah’s ideas
      1. they honored these servants of God, and rightly so
      2. but these servants were to be ministers of the Word
      3. they were not ministers of science, or philosophy, nor theology; but of the Word of God
      4. it is a grievous thing when the words or writings of a man are put on the same level as the Bible
      5. this is a danger we must beware of, lest we be found teaching for doctrine the commandments of man
  3. the people were attentive to the Word of God- 8:3-4
    1. the people listened for six hours
    2. most people today only want sermonettes or short devotional
    3. these people who were gathered together were truly interested in what God had to say
  4. great reverence is shown for the Word of God - 8:5-8
    1. this was not a carnal gathering were people came to be entertained
    2. this great assembly had a holy and reverent subjection to God and His Word
    3. we should note a striking contrast with the irreverence that many show today
    4. how this meeting was conducted?
      1. opened with prayer - 6
      2. they read the Word, and then explained it - 8
  5. the Word of God is a source of joy - 8:9-12
    1. the Word of God awakened their sense of guilt, and they were filled with sorrow - 9
    2. their tears testified to the self-judgment that was going on
    3. with God, sin judged is sin put away
    4. this is why they were told to rejoice (10-11), and did rejoice (12)
  6. the people became obedient - 8:13-17
    1. on the second day a notable discovery was made - 14
      1. this was a challenge to their obedience
      2. here was something that had not been done for a long time, but it was still in the Book
      3. to obey it required considerable inconvenience
      4. they could have argued that others had overlooked it as non-essential - 17
      5. "they found it written", and that settled it for an obedient people - 14
    2. an example of unquestioning obedience to the Word
    3. their obedience produced great gladness - 17
  7. they had a continued hunger for the Word of God - 18
  8. the Word of God had a tremendous impact on these people
    1. it pointed the people to their sin
    2. led to repentance
    3. produce obedience
    4. gave them great joy
    5. developed an unsatisfied hunger for the Word