II. Revival. 8:1-10:31
A. The Reading of the Law. Ezra the Scribe taught. 8:1-12
1. They were assembled.. 8:1,2
2. They were attentive. 8:3-6
3. They were admonished. 8:7,8
4. The were affected. 8:9,10
5. They were appreciative. 8:11,12
B. The Restoration of the Feast of Tabernacles. 8:13-18
As we have seen in the lives of the Jews, repentance leads to obedience which then leads to careful study of God’s Word in order to know and to do His will. We see this continue in the verses that we will study tonight. Read Nehemiah 8:13-18
1. The events of the seventh month.
a. The new moon of the Seventh month. This was the beginning of the civil new year.
Read Leviticus 23:24
b. The Atonement.
Leviticus 16:33-34 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
c. The Feast of Tabernacles. Read Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1-6
2. The examination of the Word of God. Nehemiah 8:13-15
3. The enthusiastic response of the people. Nehemiah 8:16-18
4. The earnest invitation from the Lord at this festival about 480 years afterward.
John 7:37-38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Throughout His ministry, the Lord identified Himself as the true and perfect fulfillment of the symbols and grace of God –
a. The True Temple. John 2:18-21
b. The True symbol of life, the Brazen Serpent. John 3:14,15
c. The True Bread from Heaven. John 6:32-35
d. The True Rock of Living Water. John 7:37,38
e. The True Luminous Cloud. John 8:12
f. The True Lamb of Sacrifice. John 1:29; 19:30
Read Hebrews 10:1-13
The Feast of Tabernacles was the last of the feast for the year. Jesus gave an invitation at the end of the feast, declaring that He is the end and fulfillment of them all.
Have you turned to Him today in repentance and faith?