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Ryan M Marks | Content Creator, Consultant, Coach

“The Spiritual Reviving after Structural Revitalization” | Nehemiah 7:73b-8:12

SOAP method: Read Scripture > Observations on the Context > Apply Faithfully > Pray the Scripture



“Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses,
For they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.
All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth”

Psalm 25:4-10a (NKJV)

Observations and Applications:

• Gathering together to hear The Word vs. 7:73-8:1-2



I believe this is the seventh month of the Jewish calendar Sept/Oct less than one week after completing the wall followed by the spiritual Feast of Tabernacles which symbolizes the time when Christ shall come to dwell (tabernacle) among His people. How fitting for a Bible conference, listening to the Word: hungry, learning, worshipping!

• The Book of the Law of Moses (first 5 books of the Bible – Gen, Ex, Lev, Num, Deut) Foundations vs. 1-2

• People were Hungry Spiritually vs. 3

• A pulpit/platform for Teaching vs. 4



*standing in honor of reading God’s Word & praying first vs. 5-8



Fun Fact: in early America pulpits were made so large because they held The Book. They were large to emphasize the Bible being held by the “sacred desk” and minimize the preacher whose head was sometimes barely seen above it but whose voice was heard as John the Baptist, a voice crying in the wilderness preaching to prepare the people to receive Jesus Himself.

The reverse trend to small tables or “coffee stool chats” today also has a reason behind it, often an appeal to be more conversational and open as opposed to direct. Are we missing something from centering preaching as teaching The Book: expositionally (exposing the text beyond a passive quick read through) and exegesis (explaining what it means, “giving the sense”).

• Teaching is about helping others to understand vs. 4-8

• Review the characters vs. 9



Nehemiah: governor

Ezra: priest and scribe (spiritual leader & writer/researcher) Ezra 7:1,10,13. Note verse 10 the Lord’s description of Ezra!

Levites: other spiritual men who shared teaching ministry

Note: Acts 6:1-7 taught that it is not right for those called to a teaching ministry, and it’s necessary simultaneous commitment to prayer, to do all the practical work of ministry which would distract, burnout and deprive others of sharing in the Lord’s work though gifted and called differently.

• A time to be Grateful not regretful vs. 9b-12, Acts 3:11-21&26

The Scriptures understanding was not a cause of weeping but of rejoicing here as well:

32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Luke 24:32,44-52

The same pattern of repentance and refreshing continues..

“Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’” Acts 3:17-23

Prayer: Father, thank You for the precious gift of the Scriptures. May I honor them as Your Words given to the world. Father, may I have ears to hear, a heart that is hunger, be instructed in the firm foundation of Your Word. May I support and honor the teaching of Your Word seeking to continue growing in understanding with others seeking You in Your gathered body. And, O Lord, help me to be grateful not regretful. Thank You that forgiveness is real and paid for, let me not cycle in shame and despair when You have granted Good News! May I grow in humility and faithfulness, and while knowing that I can never be perfect and fail often, may my mind and heart be set a fire by Jesus: He was for me what I cannot be. What Grace! What Mercy! What Love! O help me, Holy Spirit, to walk in obedience today, strengthened by the might of the Lord. Amen.



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