Week January 14 REDEDIGATING LIVES Background Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-10:39 Lesson Passages: Nehemiah 8:1,5-6,9-10; 9:1-2,38; 10:28-29 | Bieuicae TRUTH God's people need to confess sins and, when necessary, to rededicate themselves to God's service, KEY BIBLE VERSES Nehemiah 10:28-29 PRONUNCIATION AID Nehemiah [NEE huh MIGH uh] ack and Carol were talking during Sunday lunch. Jack said, “I was amazed at the large number of youth who made decisions during the invita- tion this morning. The youth retreat must have been very meaningful.” Carol replied, “Yes, and a lot of the decisions were rededications. I guess youth today face lots of temptations, and they need to recommit themselves to the Lord.” Jack agreed. “Some of those decisions might have been driven by emotion, but probably adults need to rededicate themselves at times too. Maybe adults are more inclined to make private rededications rather than walk down to talk to the minister.” Carol replied, “I wonder if a private rededication is as good as a public one. When the rest of the church knows about your decision, you would feel more accountable to fellow believers as well as to God. Those teen- agers were pretty courageous.” Although Christians have committed their lives to Christ, they sometimes succumb to temptations to sin. When we pay attention to God’s Word, we are more likely to confess our sins and recommit ourselves to living fully for Christ. This week’s lesson focuses on the Jews’ hearing God’s Word read aloud and confessing their sins. Then they renewed their covenant with God. BW Rededicating LivesSTUDY, QUE 1. What did Ezra read to the Jews? (8:1) 2. Why did the Jews stand when Ezra read the Word of God? (8:5) 3. Why did the leaders tell the Jews not to grieve as they heard God's Word? (8:9) 4. What did the Jews do in response to hearing God's Word? (9:2) 5. What did the Jews promise to do after the Levites led in the con- fession of sins? (10:29) BACKGROUND PASSAGE OVERVIEW The Jews gathered in Jerusalem and listened to Ezra read from Moses’ law. The Jews respected God’s Word and wor- shiped God. The Levites explained the words to them. The leaders told the people not to grieve but to celebrate. They real- ized it was the time of year to celebrate the Festival of Booths. The Jews assembled and fasted. They separated themselves from the foreigners and confessed their sins. The Levites re- viewed the history of God’s actions in history, including the creation of the world, God’s choice of Abraham, the oppres- sion in Egypt, the liberation under Moses’ leadership, their wan- derings in the wilderness, the conquest of Canaan, and their continuing sinful behavior. The Levites also stressed God’s compassion. The people made a binding agreement with God. The Jews separated themselves from the foreigners and promised to follow God’s law. They took an oath that includ- ed not allowing their daughters to marry foreigners, not buy- ing goods on the Sabbath, and promising to donate wood for use on the temple’s altar, to pay the tithe, and to support the Levites. The people also promised not to neglect the temple. READ Gop's Worp (NEH. 8:1,5-6,9-10) Holman.CSB en 1 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had set- tled in their towns, all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lorp had given Israel...... 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 Lorp had command- €d to 'Tsfael, .o 5. sss vero Week of January 145 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lorb, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the | people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lorp with their faces to the ground............ 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instruct- ing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the Lorp your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing pre- pared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, be- cause your strength |comes from] rejoicing in the Lorp.” 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: 6 And Ezra blessed the Lorp, the great God. And all the peo- ple answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lorp with their faces to the ground........... 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 un- to the Lorp your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the peo- ple wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send por- tions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: nei- ther be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lorn is your strength. Verse 1. The Jews assembled in front of the Water Gate in Jerusalem in the seventh month. According to the Jewish calendar, this month included several important religious holidays: and the Festival of Booths. The Jews wanted Ezra to read to them from God’s Word. (See Study Question 1.) Bible scholars cannot be sure exactly what book of the law of Moses Ezra had. It might have been the entire Pentateuch—the first five books of the Bible—or it might have been a portion of the laws God gave to Moses. QW Rededicating Lives he Feast of the Trumpets, the Day of Atonement,