God Has His Eyes Upon His People

Providential Provision

Book of Esther Chapter 1 and 2

The thing we should already know is that God is working behind the scenes to place people in certain situations that become a benefit to His people. The Jews (Hebrew) and also the Church. All those in the family of God!

Some question the reason the Book of Esther is included in the Old Testament Canon of the Bible. We may not know the actual man who used his pen to write the words of Esther, but our only concern should be that the Holy Spirit gave these words to us and we can learn from all the 66 Books of the Bible.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Book of Esther was written to the Jews but again the Church can learn the workings of God!

Again we can see how we are placed in particular places of work, of communities, of nations, to be available for God's use. Until that time comes, we are to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and be active in the Church.

In the end, the time of Esther is remembered as a national feast day called Purim.

Purim is remembered to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from Persia.

The main topic we should see is, that God is working in the world to keep His truth as is written in the Word of God.

God has a plan and that plan unfolds at the perfect time and will continues to do so, even after the Rapture of the Church!!!!!

*****Est 1:10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

Est 1:11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

This king is named Ahasuerus in the Hebrew, but he is Xerxes in the Greek language. The title Ahasuerus is used somewhat like we use the title President. This Ahasuerus maybe the third King of Persia.

Those of us who might be ashamed of our past know that there is a big difference between intoxicated and sober. While intoxicated a person might be able to walk and to talk, but decision making may not be a wise thing to do while in this condition.

We must understand that God made mankind in His image. This may not mean in looks or in physical attributes, but it certainly means for us to have the characteristics of God!

Whatever instrument used to tarnish the glory of man or woman, whether it be alcohol, drugs, or immorality or any other such thing is a terrible sin in the eyes of God.

Whatever we do or say that is unbecoming of God's character and anything we do that we would be ashamed of at a later time then comes from these evils and no only destroys our character or better said our integrity, can cause us sinful harm and cause injury to others!

The fact is drunkenness does not destroy responsibility!

We are always responsible for our actions when we have taken it upon ourselves to do these things!

We are accountable for our actions!

What does the Scriptures teach us?

Pro 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

Pro 23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

A chamberlain, men who were made eunuchs, were for the most part were grown children from high ranking nations that had been conquered by Persia.

Again God said it this way:

Isa 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Some of these chamberlains were sent after Vashti who was the Queen of Persia at this time.

They went and Vashti said no.

*****Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

We must understand the King had many other men with him and Vashti was a beautiful woman and the king was treating her as nothing but a concubine he could show off to a bunch of drunken men.

To be quiet honest, when a beautiful woman is paraded before a bunch of sober men, many of the men will commit the sin of adultery in their minds.

Mat_5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Mat_5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In a room full of drunken men it would only make matters much worse.

This was no way to treat a wife and Vashti had every reason to refuse to do this thing.

But as drunkenness does, the mind reacts in anger when the pride of a drunken man is bruised.

Now we know that God did not set this thing up, but He did use it to be a part of His plan to help the Jews.

What do a bunch of drunks do?

*****Est 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

We must understand that whatever is ruling our heart, whether it be, pride, vanity, anger, or lust or most other things will greatly display itself under the influence of alcohol or drugs!!

These men gathered not just for one day, but this thing went on for weeks, and no doubt that Vashti knew what was going on at these meetings.

The king would put on a show of just how powerful his nation was and show off the great riches of his monarchy.

The king was the sole ruler of this nation of 127 provinces and these men who he was drinking with were under his direct control.

In his drunkenness he could not allow Vashti to be disobedient.

Pro 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

Pro 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

In truth, his anger may not have lingered if he was not urged on by bad councilors.

In all these things Vashti was right.

In Persian Law it was written that men should not cause their wife to be publicly on display before men.

In fact it is this time in history when Arabian women would wear all the things that could cover her up before other men and led to the ridiculous standard that some use for evil today.

Even without such a law, women should never be asked to such a thing as Vashti was ordered to do.

Vashti was right to refuse!

After the anger:

What is wrong with America today? In every facet of our life and our government we need man and women of strong moral character but what we see are men and women who are morally corrupt, insincere, dishonest, corrupt, unjust, abusive, overbearing, even wicked and evil.

Just this week I saw where a man who is a Governor, and claimed to be gay, married to another man he called is husband, but also claiming to be a Christian, questioning our Vice-President who is a Christian and lives trying to be like Christ, which is the meaning of Christian. He also questioned the sincerity of our President saying if he is saved he could be no more than a babe in Christ.

I certainly question his false doctrine!

Jesus Christ would never go along with the gay lifestyle because according to the Word of God it is the sin of fornication because only the marriage of one man to one woman is seen as the truth of the Scriptures. This is the world we live in today!

What happened after this king sobered up and taken time to reflect on his anger?

*****Est 2:1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

He had given in to his passion and pride and treated his wife as a woman of low or no morals, when she had more morals the he and all his counselors but it was she who was penalized.

When we act under the influence of rage we will never do right. We may brag with our lips and speak eloquent words. but our wisdom will be far from us. We most certainly cause more harm than good.

We can also see this king did have some feelings for his queen, but his actions had broken this bond and it could not be mended because of some foolish law that could not be broken.

He had committed injury to himself along with causing this woman to suffer all her remaining days! There was no remedy!

The laws of the Medes of the Persians must stand or a precedent would be made!

This king would be four years without a queen and even this remedy was set up by other men.

It is this place where we can see the hand of God.

God was not involved in the party life nor the anger.

God is only involved in solutions!

We will also see where a poor Jewish girl who certainly was a beautiful woman could stand in the midst of worldly royalty and be chosen as the new queen.

The historian Josephus wrote that this king was so angered at his advisers that he had them put to death.

So what was the answer to this dilemma?

*****Est 2:2 Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

Est 2:3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

Est 2:4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

When this plan was conceived none of these men could realize how Jehovah would take this and make it useful to the restoring of the Jewish people to their native land the Promised land!

We already know that this king ruled over 127 provinces so there would probably more than this number originally chosen to come to Sushan the palace of the King.

This eunuch name Hege had the job of overseeing the harem of this king. In reality many of the kings including Jewish kings may have had only one queen but they would sometimes have many concubines.

Hege would look after these many virgins because they required more care and certainly protection and Shaashgaz would then look after the concubines of the king which we will see in a later Scripture.

The difference between a queen and a concubine was that only the queen was entitled to inherit the physical things of the king in some lands even the throne.

What we see in all these things is that the Word of God would be against all these things in seeking a wife.

I guess nothing was much wrong in the picking of the maidens except most of them would probably be no older than 16 and as young as 12.

The wrong certainly would come in the king's selection process.

Most men might see this as delightful thing I personally do not. Sin is never the right process!

Let's see how God intervenes.

*****Est 2:5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

Est 2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

Mordecai was a direct descendant of King Saul of Israel and a Benjamite. It would be Mordecai that God would use to to install Esther as Queen of Persia.

We must still understand that "all" Scripture is given to the Jew and to the Church for us to learn from.

Even if Mordecai was a baby when taken from his homeland by Nebuchadnezzar, he would be an old man by our standards, but he was not too old to be used of the Lord.

God chose him to be an intricate part of this plan for a Jew to win the heart of this king.

Sexual exploitation goes against the Word of God, but today we live in a world of lose morals and free sex and again there is nothing free in this life beyond the gifts of God.

There are consequences for all immorality!

No long term relationship between one man and one woman can depend on a physical relationship.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Mordecai had raised his uncle’s daughter Hadassah, we know as Esther.

It was this Mordecai who by the inspiration of God, saw a way to help the Jewish people.

*****Est 2:7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

The name Hadassah was her Jewish name, but her name would have to change if she was to be presented as anything but a Jew.

The significance of the name Hadassah was so called "because as the myrtle spreads fragrance in the world, she did spread good works, inspired by Jehovah God!

The King named her Esther.

The Holy Spirit will now teach us how a beautiful Jewish maiden won the heart of a king.

We begin to see another typology begin to develop.

She had neither a father, nor a mother but she was fair and beautiful.

Mordecai had already passed up two opportunities to return to his homeland.

Once when Zerubbabel and again when Ezra had returned, and we can only surmise that he was involved in the politics of Persia and was successful at it.

We see this today as many successful Jews in America remain in America rather than return to Israel as so many others have.

Remember many people are in place by the hand of God to be used as according to God's plan as we will see in this story of Esther who could not have survived without her cousin Mordecai who treated her as his daughter.

Another thing we should understand is that if the Persian government needed someone for any reason, they just took them even if they were not willing.

Most of these women jumped at the chance to be Queen of Persia.

Esther was put forth by Mordecai and God knew she would be the chosen Queen!

*****Est 2:8 So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

Est 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Because of the humble grace and beauty of Esther she was not only taken because of the king's commandment but she also found favor with Hegai and he knew that there was something about Esther that made her special.

Esther was taken to the king’s palace and began the year long purification process.

The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that there were 400 ladies chosen to take part in this process.

We can just imagine that most all these ladies were willing to have a chance to become queen of Persia.

The one thing that was hidden from all these people including the king was that Esther was a Jew!

Esther was a Jew, she was a virgin, and she had kept herself pure according to the Word of God, and not some Persian law which for the most case were immoral laws.

In these things we are reminded that Esther could represent a type of the Church, the Bride of Christ.

The steps used to please this king was in 3 steps.

1) Each one would be given 12 months of beauty treatments.

Six months of oil baths and massages.

Six months of perfume, and beauty treatments.

2) At the end of the first year each one would be selected to spend one night with the king.

In order to look their best they were given anything they requested that they thought would enhance their chances to please the king.

3) After spending that one night with the king, they were transferred to the king’s harem, where they were would live until they were called upon again by the king locked up from the outside world.

Let’s read more of Esther:

*****Est 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

Est 2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

For one whole year each of these young ladies had prepared just to spend one night with the King of Persia. For these 12 months they got touch the luxuries of the kingdom. We are sure most every one of these young maidens would do everything they could to make themselves even more attractive.

Many do the same today, but most all are not aware that God looks upon the inside.

Each of these maidens may have had the hope of becoming the Queen but after only one night, all but one may live a life where there physical needs were met but they would never be called upon again and they could not return to their families nor have what most would call, "a life"!

The chamber of the concubines was nothing more than a prison with good food, all hope destroyed.

All in all there was nothing that happened in those 12 months that could make anyone clean, much less pure.

It takes the blood of Jesus to wash away all our sin!

When Jesus was dying on the cross and the beating, and the crown of thorns, caused the blood to run down into His eyes, as He looked through that blood to those on the ground He said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"!

Just as those maidens found, there is little hope in this world, and powerful men keep most of the world locked into the prison of a life without benefits.

It is only the love of God that can satisfy the soul!

When each maiden had gotten her opportunity to spend that one night with the king, and suddenly that night was over, and she found herself in the house of the concubines.

It became Esther's time to do this thing.

Esther requested nothing more than the advice of the King's chamberlain, who knew the king better than anyone.

The beauty of Esther stood out because it was a natural beauty that the world could not improve upon!

You see being a child of God is to possess a beauty that cannot be improved upon by the world.

It is a beauty that is as a shining light that stands in a dark world!

Esther carried herself as that child of God that needed nothing from this world!

Esther was not only beautiful to the eye, but she was beautiful in her heart and carried herself having a strong character.

When Esther walked into a room, all eyes just naturally focused upon her!

Son 6:9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

Son 6:10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?

It was Esther who pleased this king!

Son 8:10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

*****Est 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Est 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

The Bible always slips in these little time lines which are always found to be true!

It was December, after all Shushan was the winter palace.

What happened? It was love at first sight.

King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) loved Esther above all women he had ever seen!

Another type we can see that Jesus loves the church.

Eph_5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

It was Esther who would be Queen of Persia!

There is a little parable that we are reminded of here.

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Why were many more Jews released to go home?

*****Est 2:18 Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

Esther was certainly a beautiful woman, but her beauty far exceeded that of just looks.

Esther undoubtedly had characteristics that caused her to be attracted to the king.

She had pleased Hegai the king’s chamberlain on first sight.

Esther was wise, she had kept her nationality a secret and presented herself for who she was, a young beautiful maiden from the lands of Persia.

We can know the each of the maidens were sought for their differences. Persia was a conquering nation and ruled 127 provinces.

Makes us think of the Lord!

Joh_3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In fact, it could be said that the entire plan of God, is based upon this one Scripture!

Esther was trustworthy, she was dependable, she was faithful, and we will soon see that Queen Esther was loyal.

Just like the First Lady of our own nation, Esther would have many official duties and she would never be asked to dance before drunken house guest.

The King had learned this lesson well!

What we should be able to see is how God has taken a situation, caused by evil men, and turned it into an opportunity to help the Jewish nation rebound from captivity!

The Plan of God is still working in this world!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Covenant Keeping God

Obeying God's Covenant

Book of Nehemiah Chapter 12

A "covenant" is an agreement between two parties.

A covenant is used in many ways in the Scriptures, but we must know that God has made a covenant with all mankind.

God has not only has made a covenant with all mankind, He is also the true witness to all covenants that we make with each other.

Even the marriage between one man and one woman is a covenant witnessed by God!

What was a part of God's covenant with Abraham?

Lev 26:42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

Lev 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

Lev 26:44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.

Lev 26:45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.

God will never forget the covenants He has made!!!!

Deu 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

The covenant that effects the church the most is, the Covenant of God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ!

Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

So let's continue in the Book of Nehemiah:

*****Neh 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

These Levites were not in Jerusalem nor were they in Persia, they had returned to their cities that had been assigned to them from the time of Joshua.

We must know that God has intended all along for Jerusalem to be the most holy city in all the world, but that will not take place until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Even so, the wall was built according to the plan of God, and it should be dedicated to Jehovah God who had blessed its reconstruction!

When we see the things that only God could have accomplished, we are foolish to not praise Him for those things, also knowing, there are many things that we do not recognize that God has accomplished, according to His plan, that moves ahead every day.

The Levites had been set apart for the priestly duties, including the work of the Temple, including the handling of sacrifices, but also arranging for the things of worship.

Remember the Nethinins were responsible for the care of the Temple.

It was also the Levites job to purify all the instruments of worship, including the musical instruments and by singing praises to the Lord.

The Levites were a gift of God to the Hebrew people and they still are today!

We must always understand that the city of Jerusalem is a special place set aside for the use of God!

The world could help to make this happen now instead of rejecting the plan of God or God has already said He will solve this problem Himself!

All those who claim the Lord Jesus Christ, should know all these things!

We as Christians must be dedicated to the Lord. This is the act of consecration, setting apart ourselves for the Lord.

*****Neh 12:28 And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;

Neh 12:29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.

Netophathi was the home city set aside for the Levites, but these particular Levites were singers.

Most of the singers for the worship in the Temple lived there, but some did also live in what is called the plain country, round and about Jerusalem.

That word plain is where the term Palestine comes from!

Although the Temple, the City of Jerusalem and homes were already dedicated to the Lord, this may be the first time that the walls of Jerusalem were dedicated to the Lord God Jehovah.

We might understand by this act of dedication, that the walls of Jerusalem were useless without the strength of God to protect them from His and our enemies.

The wall we build around ourselves, is the wall of salvation, and this wall is protected by the Divine Will of God, if we have dedicated ourselves to the will of God!

We need this wall of salvation, because within our house (our soul) dwells the Holy Spirit (Ghost) of God!

How did these Levites purify themselves?

Num 8:7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.

*****Neh 12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.

Notice that all these things were meaningless, unless they were purified!

We must understand to be purified, is to put away all false gods and the idols of this world, and give ourselves to the Lord.

We must repent of our evil ways and walk in the ways of the Lord!

We cannot do this unless we have accepted the work of Jesus Christ to save us and the truth of our Creator!

We cannot be used of God to reach others, until we our saved and separated from this world of sin, pure in mind, (the mind of Christ), and sincere in the work the Lord has given us to do!

Why was the wall purified, because it was in fact a "type" of the power of God to defend Israel.

We must remember Solomon's Temple, the city of Jerusalem, and these walls would never have been broken down had the previous generation been obedient to Jehovah.

It was disobedience to the Word of God that had caused all the problems of the nation buy God will never forsake the nation of Israel.

2Ch 36:14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.

2Ch 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

2Ch 36:17 Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

With all these things now in the past, it was now time to look forward.

The Temple was rebuilt, the City of Jerusalem was rebuilt, the Walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, and it was time to rededicate these things to the God who had allowed these things to happen.

*****Neh 12:31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

Neh 12:32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,

Neh 12:33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,

Neh 12:34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,

Nehemiah brought the princes up on the wall because they were the descendants of the royal family of King David, but they were not the government at this time because Nehemiah was the governor assigned by King Artaxerses.

It was important that all the people see that the royal family were in agreement with these things Nehemiah had set his heart to accomplish.

The one thing the people needed to see, was that this wall that had been built so quickly was a sound wall and able to protect them and it was truly a work of God.

The walls of Jerusalem were wide enough for many people to walk upon.

We should remember, that the Dung Gate would show all of them the place where the filth of the city could be seen.

One half of these groups of princes would be led by Hoshaiah which means (Jah has saved), who we know nothing more about.

Azariah could possibly be the leading prince of the tribe of Benjamin.

We already know that Ezra was a descendant of the High Priestly family and a scribe of the Word of God.

This Meshullam, was also one of the chief men of the tribe of Benjamin.

Judah was a man who Nehemiah had made to be over one half of the city of Jerusalem.

This Benjamin was one who had to give up his Gentile wife, and a high-ranking man of the tribe of Benjamin.

This Shemaiah was one who was the head over certain of the priests.

This Jeremiah was also over certain of the priests.

This group on the wall had the princes from the royal line of King David, the two men assigned by Nehemiah to be in charge, each over one half of Jerusalem, the princes of the tribe of Judah, the princes of the tribe of Benjamin. and the heads of all the Levites and the priests.

If these people were convinced that the walls were safe and part of the dedication ceremony, then they could encourage all the other Jews, who we can be sure were watching as these men made their trip around the Walls of Jerusalem.

Since this was a joyous occasion, then there was a need for music.

*****Neh 12:35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:

Neh 12:36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.

We know that Asaph had been appointed by King David, to be over all the music of the worship services and even in the time of Nehemiah, this family still provided the music for worship and at this dedication of the walls of Jerusalem.

We should understand that in typology, these walls represented the Divine protection of God.

Psa_5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

This Zechariah was the descendant of Asaph, and all these others were part of that family.

Those musical instruments would include:

The harp or better known as the lyre.

The psaltry another type of harp.

The sackbut another type of harp that had only 4 strings.

The lute which was a type of guitar.

The gittith another type of string instrument.

The timbrel a form of tamborine.

The toph which is a drum.

There would be bells.

There would be cymbals.

And of course there would be trumpets of different types, possibly including bagpipes.

We can see that it was an orchestra that was upon that wall this day of dedication.

Music should always be a part of our own dedication to the Lord!

It was Ezra, the Priest and Scribe, who led this group of musicians.

This group climb onto the wall at the house of David.

*****Neh 12:37 And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.

We know that Jerusalem is built upon a hill with the Temple upon a hill of Mount Moriah, so certainly there would be many steps in the city.

By dedicating the walls of Jerusalem in such a manner, Nehemiah was hoping that the people would be encouraged to complete the reconstruction of the City of Jerusalem.

The city of Jerusalem was under the control of Persia for more than 200 years and then about another 150 years, a part of the Greek empire.

Then came Herod and the Roman Empire.

It will be the Lord, when He returns, who will build the city of Jerusalem to His specifications, and then about 1000 years later or a bit more we that love the Lord will see the New Jerusalem.

In this world it seems all we see is destruction and rebuilding then rebuilding walls for protection.

It amazes me, that many of the well to do, will build walls around their own homes, but deny that we need walls to secure our nation.

They will have armed guards, but try to deny all other the right to defend their homes and families.

They will confine others to limited health care, while they legislate themselves a total free healthcare system.

They will confine many to small wages, while they insist on grand monies while they work and a grand retirement.

We do not live free as our forefathers planned, we are ruled by reprobates who reject the Word of God, and seek only power and prestige.

Shame on us for allowing this to happen in our nation!

The other half of this company after giving thanks to the Lord God Jehovah, went in the opposite direction.

*****Neh 12:38 And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;

Neh 12:39 And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.

We have Nehemiah who represented the Government of Israel, and Ezra representing God's people, speaking in one voice this day in Israel.

These people realized what could happen when they all worked together and according to the Word of God.

When we have been thru the valley of contention and made it to the crest of truth again, we should take a moment to look back where we came from and how the power of God had brought us again to the hill top.

We need to remove all negativity from our minds, and just trust the Lord to lead us.

Look back and see how history could have been changed, had the tiny nation of Israel remained true to the Word of God.

We could also say the same thing for our own nation!

One day we will live in a world where no one will be against the Word of God, and it will be a perfect world!

There will be no fish gate, and certainly no prison gate, no sheep gate and no old gate.

They will all be gates of pearl!

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

In the New Jerusalem there be 12 foundations and each name had inscribed with the names of the 12 Apostles.

Those 12 men who obeyed the Lord Jesus Christ, and did cause the Gospel to begin its trip to all the world!

*****Neh 12:40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:

Neh 12:41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;

Neh 12:42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.

What do we know? We know that the work that God has given us to do is not druggery. It is a very satisfying thing to lead someone to the Lord.

It is a joyous thing to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that God wants all things done decently and in order.

What do all evolutionist miss along with most people of this world? They miss the fact that every living creature, every landscape, and every plant, every solar system and every process in God's Creation are done decently and in order.

The truth of our universe is that it is orderly going about what God intended it to do.

The only thing where problems come is mankind!

These two groups in one voice gave thanks to God, not because they had returned to the Promised Land, but because they knew the Word of God was true and it will always be true!

God will fulfill every promise He has ever made to the Church and to the nation of Israel and its people.

We can open the Word of God and see a loving God who will do exactly what He says He will do.

Some will say that a loving God would never send anyone to Hell, but they have not understood the Word of God which teaches us how to avoid Hell, so if we end up in Hell then the blame is entirely on ourselves!

To be a Christian is a serious thing, because our goal is to be like Jesus Christ. He is our example and He teaches us, we cannot be perfect while we remain on this earth. This is still or goal and it is a happy and peaceful thing to accomplish.

There is still time for all the things concerning mankind to be accomplished!

Ecc_3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

This time grows shorter each day and God does not do things on our schedule but only on His schedule and His schedule will never change.

We can rejoice in the Lord and in our salvation, or we can give up on the Lord and be failures as Christians.

We see the failures of Christians in our nation every day. There are enough Christian in our nation to put good and righteous people in our government, but we sit at home and refuse to vote!

Either way, God's plan moves along at His pace and we know the Lord will return when we lease expect it, and He will still be right on time no matter what is going on in this world.

Are we in a severe climate change? The Lord promised we would have the four seasons until He returns.

Will this world end drastically? The Church will be in Heaven well before this thing could ever take place!

God says to quit worrying about these things, and get busy serving the Lord.

Then stand upon your own personal wall, and give God the praise and worship that we should give Him every day!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Reviving the Nation of Israel

Revival and Renewal

Book of Nehemiah Chapter 8

The title of this lesson could have been, "The Revival of a Nation"!

We should clearly understand that walls can only do so much. What kept Israel safe was a relationship with God the Father, as a nation.

What will keep America safe? When the majority of people have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I believe there was a time in America that this was true, but now the Church has become lazy, and even worse the Church has allowed the world to get inside the Church and the walls of the Church are crumbling and falling down.

What worked in the day of Nehemiah and Ezra will work again today, to revive God's Church and get back to the business of redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Isaiah said send me.

As Ezra said send me.

As Nehemiah said send me.

We of the Church have got to take a stand and say Lord send us!!!!!

The Word of God already teaches us God's blessings and it is only by the Word of God that we can bring revival back to the United States of America and only by the revival of God's people.

If we want to see change in America, then we have to get back to the truth of God's Word and live by God's standards!

We do not need those books that have eliminated the truth of God, we must have the old standards and truths of the Scriptures. There are no new interpretations of the Scriptures. What God said the Jews He is saying to us, rightly divided.

What God has said about sin is the same for today!

Let's see how Nehemiah describes what happened:

*****Neh 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

How do we revive our nation?

We must have a desire to live according to the Word of God!!!!!!

With all the things that had happened since Zerubbabel brought that first group back to Jerusalem from the captivity caused by Nebuchadnezzar, these people had seen that Jehovah God had been the key to success.

God's Word had proven to be true over and over again!

The men who would stand up and speak the Word of God would not be charlatans, but they would be scholars of the Word of God.

A scholar is anyone to takes the Word of God as the truth, and teaches the fundamentals and the doctrines of the Scriptures.

We should all be scholars of God's Word!!!!!

We notice immediately is was the people who demanded to hear what God has said and they spoke with one voice.

Ezr 3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together "as one man to Jerusalem".

They had lived under the pagan laws of the world and there was not much truth in those things.

Most of them had not heard the Word of God at all.

Some had preserved what God had said, and taught as many as they could while in captivity.

It is hard to believe anything when you are a slave in a foreign country!!!!!

They went straight to the one man they trusted with the truth, which was Ezra and said to him, "teach us the laws of Moses".

These were the laws that God had given to Moses for the Children of Israel, after the escape from Egypt.

They did not want some modern version, they wanted the truth of God, because they were tired of lies, they hungered for the truth!

*****Neh 8:2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

Neh 8:3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

For those who do not know, the Jews had 613 laws that concerned their daily lives. Much more that the 10 Commandments that we usually think of.

The very first law is the one broke most often by us all!!!!!

Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

If we loved the Lord as we claim, then we would obey Him in all things!

The truth is, the Lord proves over and over that He is worthy of worship and praise. As Christians we owe the Lord our lives and our freedom.

So many have forgotten the truth of God, and are twisted in their thought patterns. by unscrupulous men who intend to see them fail.

God has blessed His Word as the instrument of the Church!!!!!

It is Bible truth that has changed the lives of so many and not the world which only teaches lies!!!!!!!!

Ezra had remained loyal to God all his days. He had made sure the Word of God, (by the Holy Spirit) had been preserved in its purity all his days and on this day, he had gotten the opportunity to preach, read, instruct, deliver the pure Word of God, to all those who had gathered in the city square of Jerusalem, the city of God.

These people had a renewed trust in their God Jehovah, who had done everything He said He would about their captivity and their freedom.

When you are on the receiving end of God's truth, you never forget what God has done for you!!!!!!

Many of these people had never heard the Word of God, they had only heard the stories that others had said about it.

So all these people gathered for one thing and that was to hear the laws concerning their way of life.

We can be fools if we want to, but we all need directions in the purity of life and the thoughts of our Creator!!!!!

The Words of the Bible teach us the ways of our Creator and His character, and He simply ask us to be more like Him and He teaches us how we can do that.

As Christians we may not have those 613 laws, but we certainly are to be obedient to the Ten Commandments and again we may ask ourselves why, but it shows we are willing to trust God!!!!!!!

Again the greatest of those laws is to love our Creator, who is Jehovah God to the Jews and the Lord Jesus Christ to all Christians.

They are One and the same person!!!!!!!

Ezra had been in Jerusalem for possibly 13 years or more. He had set up the worship in the Temple and installed the priests to their functions and the Nethinims to their functions and he had beautified the inner parts of the Temple.

The people had never gathered in the way they had gathered this day!

It was the walls being rebuilt that had given them security that had caused them to gather in such a quantity on this day.

Nehemiah was a worthy "Governor" and "Ezra" was a worthy man of God. People they could trust.

We have many similarities in the USA today. We have a worthy President. We have the pure Word of God. We just do not that feeling of security because so many fought against the building a wall for security but have built the many walls of sin to surround us.

The Bible says that Ezra read from daylight until noon and still this congregation was inspired by what he read.

There is only One other who we know that read the Word of God and explained it better than Ezra and it was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

We might ask ourselves, when were pulpits first used?

*****Neh 8:4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Matthias, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

Neh 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

Neh 8:6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

This may not be the time of the first pulpit, but it tells of the need for the pulpit.

We know that radio has its special place, but most people would rather see who is doing the talking.

In reality, Ezra was obedient to the Lord by being bold enough to stand before these people and give the Word of God.

This is a great example for every Preacher and also for every Christian.

We can also see that the government endorsed this event as Nehemiah was now the Governor of Israel.

This platform was built large enough to hold 14 men.

The first thing we notice is that when Ezra open the Book (scrolls) these people showed reverence to the Word of God by standing.

No one told them to stand, they just stood in reverence to the Word of God.

I'm sure they did not stand for the entire 6 hours. It is also to be expected that these other 13 men would assist Ezra in the reading of the Word of God.

From this time on, the Jewish nation stood for the reading of the Word of God, a practice we observe in my church, named Gethsemane.

Another thing Ezra and these 13 men did was to "make sense of the Word".

They preached the message of God and how to apply it to their daily lives!

You see, if we do reverence the Word of God for what it is, the inerrant, infallible, non-changing, perfect, Word of God, then we are not true believers.

The Word of God is not only true, but it is the truth. There is no higher authority than the written Word of God!

2Pe_1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

For those who sit quietly in their pews, we see it is OK to say Amen when we hear the true Word of God and its meaning!

We should never sit quietly to hear any twisted version or a false preacher, they need to be run out of our assemblies.

We must remember it is the people who are the Church, the Bride of Christ!

We can also see the lifting up of the hands as a form of worship. To worship is to celebrate the Truth of God, without being ridiculous.

We do these things in reverence to our Savior.

When we raise up our hands, they need to be "Holy Hands"!

A proper appreciation of God’s Word is necessary for spiritual success!!!!!!

Our worship service should not only be joyous, and unselfish, but be as God demands, "in Spirit and Truth!

Joh_4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh_4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

You see, now after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, at His first coming, now is the time to worship our Father in Heaven, by the means of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, whichever way you want to say it!

We must humble ourselves before our mighty God, and there is only One, His name is Jehovah and the Lord Jesus Christ!

For those who had trouble understanding, these men were provided to help them understand.

This is the way of making disciples!

***** Neh 8:7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

Neh 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

You see there is no one who should walk away from the house of God, that does not understand the truth of the Sermon, nor the application of the Word of God.

The Word of God is intended to be applied to our lives and by this, will those who are lost see a great change in us!

Psa 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The key to understanding is to realize that the entire Bible is about our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

As we can see by the destruction of the Temple, the synagogue and the church how hold the importance for understanding the Word of God!

There was no one in this assembly was not informed of the truth of God!!!!!!

Remember once we hear the Word of God, we must make our decision to believe or to not believe!

Reminds us that day of Pentecost with the Apostles.

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Just so we know, every man in this assembly heard the Word of God in his own tongue. That word tongues, has the meaning of language.

Each one in their assembly heard the Word of God in his own language.

This was the gift of tongues and not something heard that even God did not hear, not some mumbling of the Holy Spirit.

We see again that Nehemiah was indeed the Governor of Israel.

*****Neh 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Tirshatha means Nehemiah was Persian Governor of Judea, Ezra was now the recognized High Priest and remained a Scribe all his days.

The Levites, the descendants of Aaron, were the teachers and they taught the people according to the truth of God.

This day was not to be a day of sadness but a day of rejoicing.

The Word of God never brings sadness. It is sad only to those who desire to keep their sin and refuse to give it up!!!!!!

Giving up your sin is not a requirement for salvation, but once you love the Lord Jesus you will want to be more like Him, and Jesus our Savior had no sin at all, and this is to be our own goal!

Jesus Christ will help you to do away with your, sin just as He did me and many others by taking the "I Want To" out of your life.

I do not have a desire to sin, in fact I hate sin and every true believer will think along these same lines.

To be Christian is to be "Like Jesus Christ"!

The day of these things was most probable a new-moon day.

These people were sad because they felt the guilt of not knowing the Word of God as they should have and they felt a danger that God would once again send them into captivity, but if we will do as His Word says, and He will never go against His own Words!

There is a great need for the Christian community to study the Word of God!!!!!!

You cannot study the Scriptures unless you choose a Bible that is translated from the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.

Be very selective when choosing your Bible!!!!!

The Bible is its own best commentary, but you can get some help and thoughts from some of the commentaries, but again be very selective in choosing those commentaries!!!!!!

You will also need at least one dictionary and there are good biblical dictionaries.

We must keep in mind that these Scriptures were written in a time different from our own time, yet the Scriptures are just as relevant today as they were then, but we must consider these things.

It is most important that we know that the pure Word of God is the truth of God!!!!!!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It was now time to go back to their homes and meditate on what they had learned this day.

You see it was decision time!

*****Neh 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Neh 8:11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.

Every day we spend time in the Scriptures is a holy day!

We get alone with God when we pray, and we also get alone with God when we spend time with God's Word.

We must treat the Scriptures as the very Word of God because this is the truth!!!!!!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God the Holy Spirit inspired all the Word of God in many ways to those 40 or more men who actually penned those words for us!

When Ezra gave these words to the people he was saying, this was a joyful day and not one of fasting and grief.

Sure the Word of God convicted them of their sin, but it also showed them the means of redemption.

They need only repent and return to the Lord!!!!!!!!!

This day was probably the opening day of the Feast of the Tabernacles.

Lev 23:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

Lev 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Lev 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

Lev 23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Lev 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Lev 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

Surely it was a time to help those who could not help themselves!!!!!!!

It was a holy day so there should be no signs of mourning, but a day of remembering all the good things God had for them.

It was by their own disobedience that they had suffered but those days would be over, if they remained obedient to the Lord.

Hab 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Zep 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

It will be the same when the Lord returns:

Zec 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

Zec 2:11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

Zec 2:12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

Zec 2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

It was a day of peaceful celebration because they had heard the Word of God and they had understood it!

*****Neh 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

We must understand all the great revivals in our history began with a hunger for the truth of God!!!!!

This comes only by His Words and those who preach God's Words and not their own words!!!!!!

There is truly a sweetness in God's Peace!!!!!!

There is a dire need today within all societies for all Christian believers to study the Word of God, and awaken those who do not know the truth of God!

The Word of God does not only teach the commandments of God, but it teaches us how to be obedient to those commandments!

Here in the Bible belt of America many have become insensitive to the Word of God because it is heard so often, so we treat our Bibles like we treat other books and we need to get back the joy of the truth of God and avoid the miseries of this world.

We can still have the peace of God!!!!!

Php_4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

It is the wondrous Word of God that keeps us motivated, in the immoral society of today.

We know the truth and it is not our truth to keep from others, it is indeed the truth that needs to be heard by all others and explained to all others!

The Word of God will also arouse us to show compassion to those who are without and those who are abused by the world today.

You want to make your life better!

Get into the Word of God and study and believe!!!!!!

Ask the Holy Spirit for His help!!!!!

We must understand that God has no secrets that He is trying to hide from us!

These people had seen the Temple rebuilt and so what, that it was not as glorious as the first Temple. Most had not seen the Temple of Solomon.

These people had seen the city of Israel restored and so what, that there were still signs of destruction.

These people had seen the walls of the city restored so they could have that sense of security that comes with walls.

The Word of God that also contained much of the history of their nation was again restored as the Words of Life.

God had met their needs, so it was not a time to grieve, it was a time to celebrate!

What do we have to complain about today?

It is still a time to study the Word of God to know the truth of God.

Jesus Christ is the God of the Bible.

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

We already have the pure Word of Life. Read it and understand the Love of God!

Amen

Let's Pray!