The Book Of Nehemiah Part 16 Revival Brings Obedience & Worship

Here is a note about an index containing all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. 

An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021, was published on September 7, 2022.

An index for all lessons posted in 2022, was published January 24, 2023.

An index for all lessons posted in 2023 was posted on February 28, 2024. 

The index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21,2025. 

Below is the link to the YouTube channel of my church. 

In Sunday school, we learned that the Jewish people experienced a revival as the scriptures were read and taught to them.

Ezra and other qualified men read the scriptures to the people for many hours. 

Then, other qualified men were sent out into the crowds to make sure that every single person understood what God said to them in His Word.

Revival is often marked by a fervent return to the standards God originally set in place. 

This happens when the people of God who strayed away or abandoned God's truth to follow something else, are convicted of sin and see a great need to return to God's way.

First, we learned that the proper support and care was re-established for priests, Levites, and all who ministered to the people at the house of God.

Second, there was a great need to re-populate Jerusalem because there were at least ten gates, which are points of entrance that the Jews must be able to defend.

Thus, they cast lots and determined to send 10 percent of the population to live in Jerusalem. There were also many who volunteered to live in the city.

Next, the right order for administration of temple services, work and worship given by King David, was re-established.

Thus, these truths from the historical narrative remind us that revival often involves re-establishing the right ways of God that we strayed from.

Next, we saw a purified, revived people praising and worshiping Jehovah. 

This was a day of consecration, a day of gladness, a day of thanksgiving and a day of singing.

Last, we learned that true revival yields the beautiful fruit of God honoring worship.

There was a strong and clear witness for the Lord of glory as His people worshiped in Spirit and in truth.

One last truth we learned was that revival include not yielding up God's truth.

Any time a Christian surrenders or compromises the truth of scripture, he or she will go down a road that leads them away from fellowship with God.

Israel gave up the right worship of God, the provided way of cleansing from sin, close fellowship with each other around the glory of Jehovah and teaching from the scriptures.

Once they gave that up they fell into idolatry and God sent them away into Babylonia for 70 years of captivity.

It was a long road for the Jewish people to return to their homeland. They returned in three waves under Zerubbabel, then Ezra and last, under Nehemiah.

They encountered fierce opposition from pagan people and haters of God. 

It took years before the house of God was rebuilt. 

It took much hard, physical labor to removed the mountains of debris from the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.

It took painful exposure of the sin of marrying pagans whom God said specifically not to marry. 

There was great sorrow and heartache as this sin was dealt with according to the scriptures.

Families and children were dissolved and the pagan spouses and offspring sent back to their lands.

All of this reminds us today that we must not yield up the truth of God's Word. 

We must remain faithful to Him who called us out of sin's darkness into the marvelous grace and kingdom of God.

We must strive at all times to remain anchored to the scriptures and to our LORD.

I know the livestream will be encouraging to those who are able to view it.

Bob