What else happened after the wall was rebuilt? In this section of the book of Nehemiah, we see how God’s people also gathered themselves to worship God as a nation.
(A) Worship rests in salvation accomplished (Neh 8:9-12)
The people gathered after the wall was rebuilt and read God’s word for a long time. As they read, there was a clear reaction — they wept (Neh 8:9b).
Remember how these people had received judgement and were exiled for their disobedience. Yet, God brought them back to the land, heard His word and weep again because of their guilt. There is a certain suffering that comes from our own sin. It will do us well to reckon with the extent of suffering that comes as a result of our sin.
This is what the people are doing here. They hear God’s word and see themselves for who they are before this God — sinners.
Nehemiah, Ezra, and the priests stress an instruction three times. It i the instruction to not weep and be grieved (Neh 8:9-11). Why? Two reasons are given for it. The first is that “this day is holy to the LORD your God” (Neh 8:9). Why is this so? When we think of God’s holiness, we may think of our sin, and therefore, be grieved by it. The holiness of this day reminds them of God’s past salvation, and this should cause joy.
The second reason is that the joy of the LORD is their strength (Neh 8:11). In Nehemiah 1:8-10, we began with Nehemiah acknowledging that they have sinned and are scattered because of their disobedience. Yet, in this part of Nehemiah, God has gathered them back and continues to show His faithfulness to them. This is the reason for their joy.
And we see here that God has a purpose for their gathering. They are not to grieve at this gathering! He has designed them to find the joy of the LORD in them. He is their God and they can take joy in Him! And because this joy is from Him, they will have a strength from Him too, and can rest in what God has done to bring them back to this place.
Today, there will be moments when God’s word cuts to your heart, and by God’s Spirit, enabled to see sin for what it is and any illusion of self-righteousness is broken down. “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ,” writes the Scottish pastor, Robert McCheyne. It is true and right for us to grieve our sins but also remember that God’s salvation accomplished in and through Christ gives us great reason for joy!
Do you know this joy?
As a result, all the people went their way to eat and drink (Neh 8:12). They were also to send portions to those who had not prepared it. And this is not just a personal celebration but a corporate one! Everyone was to rejoice together.
We often think of holiness together with righteousness and solemnness. But the Bible also speaks of holiness with joy and a corporate response. This is what we see here, as people understand holiness and respond in corporate worship.
(B) Worship reminds us of salvation to come (v13-18)
On the second day, we read of how the heads of the fathers’ houses of the people, with the priests and Levites came together to Ezra (Neh 8:13). These are the those who are meant to take responsibility.
God’s word and God’s joy had led them to pursue what they are meant to pursue. As Psalm 37:4 states,”Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This is what is shown here in Nehemiah!
The people read of how the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month (Neh 8:14). They proclaimed it and the people were told to go out and bring back the materials for these booths (Neh 8:15). The people did as they were told (Neh 8:16).
What would it look like for a whole nation to do as they were told? God’s word commanded, and they did it. This is a people that did not think they made it on their own but recognised that God’s word went out, rescued them and now they will obey every single word.
How do we think of ourselves? How do we think of ourselves in relation to a watching world as we read God’s word?
This was meant to be a joyous feast. They had also not kept it from the days of Joshua (Neh 8:17). As they observed it now, it also served to remind them that they are people that are still pilgrims and on a journey. God is still not done with them. Yes, salvation has been accomplished and applied but still not complete.
And it is important for us to hear this too. Salvation is not over yet. God is not done! This is not our best life now. We are strangers just passing through this land. Paul writes about it in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. In this tent we groan, but one day, we will be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Right now, we are dwelling in this tent that is not our home.
This is what holy days and gathering around God’s word is for. It is to help us to reorient our hearts and minds. We close with Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:50–58, which reminds us flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. One day, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
And 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 tells us, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’”
Indeed, the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Therefore, our encouragement that Paul wants us to know is to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.