January 14 Commentary

Sunday School Lesson: Explore the Bible - January 14

Rededicating lives By Thurman Seber 1/10/2007

Focal Passage: Nehemiah 8:1, 5-6, 9-10; 9:1-2, 38; 10:28-29 Introduction. A modern temptation is to measure progress primarily by bricks and mortar or by numbers. We often think we are doing well if we have built a new building or added numbers to our Sunday School rolls. While these things can be legitimate measuring tools for determining a church’s growth, they must not stand alone as the only ways to measure. Although exact chronology is often hard to determine in Scripture, we are assuming that both the temple and the wall were completed at this point and time, as per chronological order given in Nehemiah. Much progress had been made in construction and organization. The people yet lacked in spiritual areas. Is this often the situation today? Beautiful buildings and large numbers alone, do not make great churches. Read God’s Word (8:1, 5-6, 9-10). The people asked to hear the Word of God read in their presence. We believe God’s Holy Spirit was stirring in their midst. The stirring of the Spirit has often been accompanied by a thirst for God’s Word in great revival meetings. Ezra the priest brought the scrolls and read for them. He did not seem to think the Scripture was too hard for the people to understand. If there were parts that needed explanation, other understanding men gave further interpretation (v. 7). The power of God’s written Word has long been evident. Spiritual revival is guided by the Bible, and any religious movement must stand the testing of God’s Word. True Bible preachers and teachers are just as needed now as were Ezra and his helpers then. Repent and confess sins (9:1-2). For some six hours the people stood to hear Ezra read and explain the Scriptures. Can you imagine a congregation sitting on padded pews to listen that long today? The effect upon them was predictable. God’s Spirit brought deep conviction of sin (v. 2). Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

They confessed their own sins, not the sins of their neighbors. How many people today see sin as a problem someone else has? What sometimes passes as sin confession is little more than gossip about someone else in the church. We would do well to heed the admonishment of Paul to the church at Corinth; I Corinthians 11:28, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” Return to God’s ways (9:38; 10:28-29). Their conviction of sin was followed by a change of ways. Real revival and rededication always works that way. Many have walked the aisle in revival meetings, only to return to the same old lifestyle soon afterward. That is, in no wise, revival. James said it this way; James 1:23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” Conclusion. The greatest work accomplished by Ezra and Nehemiah was not in the areas of wall or temple building, nor was it in the organization of the people for effective living. Of far greater consequence was the spiritual revival and return to the ways of God. As we enter this new year, let us be focused on the spiritual aspect of our faith, and let us walk in the light of Jesus Christ. — Seber is a full-time evangelist, based in Liberty.