October 28 | p1 Nehemiah | Rebuilding: Each Heart Matters PNastor Tim Bollinger | Nehemiah 7 - 8 Nehemiah 7 - 8 Chair Bibles page 402 Nehemiah 7:4 The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt. Nehemiah 7:5-6 Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. Chapter 7 serves as a pivot in the Book of Nehemiah. • Chapters 1-6 describe the restoration of the wall of Jerusalem. • Chapters 8-13 tell about the restoration of the people of Judah. Nehemiah 7:73 So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their town . 1) We Read God's Word Nehemiah 8:3 And he (Ezra) read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. October 28 | p2 2) We Hear God’s Word Taught & Explained Nehemiah 8:7-8 They... helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 3) We Respond to God’s Word • They were contrite (8;9) "people had been weeping" • Their grieving turned to joy (8:9-10) "the joy of the Lord is your strength" • They gave generously (8:10,12) "send portions to anyone who has nothing" • They obeyed (8:13-17) "feast of the seventh month" • They worshipped (8:18) "solemn assembly" Where does your faith need renewal? What is the restorative work God wants to do in your life? Who are you allowing to speak into your life? Nehemiah Reading Plan Week of October 28: Nehemiah 9-10 Week of November 4: Nehemiah 11-12 Week of November 11: Nehemiah 13.