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    Apr 07, 2019

    First Things First

    First Things First

    Passage: Nehemiah 8:9-12

    Speaker: Rev. Vivian McCarthy, Pastor

    Series: Renovation

    God’s renovation project through Nehemiah was an avenue for the people to return, not just to the land from which they had been exiled but all the way back to God’s heart. ~Jacob Armstrong (Renovate Leader Guide - page 89)

    About the time that my sister’s boys were in late elementary school, they moved into a new home – new to them, not newly built.  They were all so excited.  They had lived in a neighborhood that was deteriorating right before their eyes, evidenced by increasing drug traffic.  She was afraid for her boys, as you can imagine.

    They were filled with hope.  I’ll never forget the first time I visited their new home.  They had a gazebo outside big enough for big family meals – and a koi pond – with beautiful, shimmering koi swimming around.  It wasn’t a big property, but it was very nice and perfect for them.

    Very soon after they moved into their home, Patty and her family invited their family and friends to a house blessing – a big party that began with a beautiful worship service that moved throughout the home, stopping for prayer and anointing with water and maybe even a little bit of oil.  And they hung a mezuzah on the front door to remind them – remember what is inside the mezuzah? 

    Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.

    I truly enjoy having the opportunity to do a house blessing – formal or informal.  The homeowners are always like Patty was that day, showing their honored guests their new place and shining with hope – a fresh start.

    In today’s episode of the story, Nehemiah and the workers have finished the renovation of the walls and gates.  And they realize that it’s time to invite some others to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

    First Scripture Reading                                Nehemiah 7:1-2, 4-5

    When the wall had been built and I had hung the doors, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed. 2 Then I put my brother Hanani and Hananiah the commander of the fortress in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah was a faithful man who revered God more than many.

    4 Now although the city was wide and large, only a few people were living within it, and no houses had been rebuilt. 5 My God then prompted me to assemble the officials, the officers, and the people so that they could be registered by families.

    Can you imagine what that must have been like?  In my mind’s eye, I imagine it like the biggest family reunion I’ve never seen.  Oh wait – there’s a kind of hole in the story here .  People were moving back, aided by the Persian king who sent people home a few at a time.  Chapter 7 says there were 42,360 people in the assembly – and they all had to rebuild since there were no houses yet rebuilt.  They must have started renovating and rebuilding pretty quickly as all of those people returned.  Nehemiah had not rebuilt the whole city.  What he did was make rebuilding seem possible again.  He gave the people hope!

    It’s hard to figure out the timing, but at some point, the people gathered and asked for a house blessing – a very large house blessing.

    Second Scripture Reading                                 Nehemiah 8:1, 9-12

    When the seventh month came and the people of Israel were settled in their towns, all the people gathered together in the area in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Instruction scroll from Moses, according to which the Lord had instructed Israel.

    9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Don’t mourn or weep.” They said this because all the people wept when they heard the words of the Instruction.

    10 “Go, eat rich food, and drink something sweet,” he said to them, “and send portions of this to any who have nothing ready! This day is holy to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy from the Lord is your strength!”

    11 The Levites also calmed all of the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy. Don’t be sad!” 12 Then all of the people went to eat and to drink, to send portions, and to have a great celebration, because they understood what had been said to them.

    Beloved, Nehemiah’s renovation made it possible for others to undertake their own renovation.  They saw what a difference his renovation made for him – and for all of the people.  And that helped them all to rebuild their lives with God.

    I love the part of the story where the people ask for God’s instruction to be read to them.  They had forgotten the Word.  They had forgotten the Way.  They had forgotten how to live as God’s people.  Nehemiah’s commitment to renovation gave them all a fresh start.

    Out of despair, light began to shine.  Out of desperation, hope peeked through.  And what did Ezra remind them of?  He reminded them that they were God’s and that the joy of the Lord was their strength.  He literally picked them up with the word – got them to their feet and they celebrated.  Their new “house” was blessed beyond measure because the people had found their way back to God’s heart.