No job is done until it's all done. Now what do you do? Celebrate!

1. Celebrate!
Nehemiah 7:1–5; 66–73
Nehemiah 8:1–18

2. Premature celebration
Leon Lett
2

3. Almost done
Now when the wall was rebuilt and I had set
up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the
singers and the Levites were appointed, then I
put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the
commander of the fortress, in charge of
Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and
feared God more than many.
3

4. Almost done (continued)
Then I said to them, “Do not let the gates
of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is
hot, and while they are standing guard, let
them shut and bolt the doors. Also appoint
guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
each at his post, and each in front of his
own house.” 4

5. Don’t confuse being done with
being finished!
Wall full height
Gates and bars set
Who’s in charge?
What do they do?
5

6. Other problems
Now the city was large and
spacious, but the people in it
were few and the houses
were not built.
6

7. Work is not finished
 Solutions often reveal
other problems
 You must be willing to
do “one more thing”
7

8. Leave room for God
Then my God put it into my heart
to assemble [everyone] to be
enrolled by genealogies. Then I
found the book of the genealogy…
8

9. Plans are good
Let God Speak
Ask counsel
9

10. Statistics
Assembly 42,360
Servants 7,337
Singers + 245
Total 49,942
(He even counted beast of burdens)
10

11. Nehemiah’s solution
Leaders would
live in
Jerusalem
Temple Staff
1 in 10 by lots
11

12. Nehemiah recognized their monetary contributions
70 Some from among the heads of fathers’ households
gave to the work.
The governor 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 basins, 530
priests’ garments.
the heads of fathers’ households 20,000 gold
drachmas and 2,200 silver minas.
the rest of the people gave was 20,000 gold drachmas
and 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests’ garments.
12

13. Now this phase is finished
Now the priests, the Levites, the
gatekeepers, the singers, some of the
people, the temple servants and all
Israel, lived in their cities. And when
the seventh month came, the sons of
Israel were in their cities.
13

14. Break in the story
1. Zerubbabel and Joshua………..Build the Temple
2. Ezra the Scribe……………………..Restore Worship
3. Nehemiah the Cupbearer…….Build the Wall
14

15. Some time passes
Nehemiah returned to Babylon
Report
Elevated to Governor
15

16. And all the people gathered as one man at the
square which was in front of the Water Gate, and
they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of
the law of Moses which the LORD had given to
Israel. Then Ezra brought the law before the
assembly of all who could listen with
understanding
Call a holy assembly
16

17. Celebration starts with assembly
1 Corinthians 5:4…In the name of our
Lord Jesus, when you are assembled,
and I with you in spirit, with the power
of our Lord Jesus,
let us consider how to stimulate one
another to love and good deeds, not
forsaking our own assembling
together…but encouraging one another;
and even more as you see the day
drawing near.
17

18. He read from it before the square which was in
front of the Water Gate from early morning until
midday, in the presence of men and women,
those who could understand; and all the people
were attentive to the book of the law.
Centrality of the Word
18

19. Why
Revelation 1:3…Blessed
is he who reads and
those who hear the
words of the prophecy,
and heed the things
which are written in it…
So faith comes
from hearing,
and hearing by
the word of
Christ.
Romans 10:17
19

20. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the
people…all the people stood up. Then Ezra
blessed the LORD the great God. And all the
people responded, “Amen, Amen!” lifting up their
hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the
LORD…
Responded to God
20

21. John 4:23–24 (NASB95)
23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit
and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be
His worshipers. 24 “God is spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Assembly leads to worship
21

22. [The Priests] and Levites, explained the law to the
people while the people remained in their place.
They read from the book, from the law of God,
translating to give the sense so that they
understood the reading.
Growth from understanding
22

23. Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra
the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught
the people said to all the people, “This day is holy
to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For
all the people were weeping when they heard the
words of the law.
Assembly changes hearts
23

24. Celebrate
“Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and
send portions to him who has nothing
prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is
your strength.”
24

25. Understanding leads to celebration
All the people went away to eat, to
drink, to send portions and to
celebrate a great festival, because
they understood the words which had
been made known to them.
25

26. Outcome
Understanding
Obedience
Sharing
Celebration
26

27. Came back the next day
Rediscovered the Feast of Booths
“We have to do this!”
Can you guess what happened next?
27

28. Party like it’s 444 BC
The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from
the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day.
And there was great rejoicing. Ezra read from
the law of God daily, from the first to the last
day. And they celebrated the feast seven days…
28

29. But that’s the Old Testament
Gladness a state of intensive joy and gladness, often
implying verbal expression and body movement (for
example, jumping, leaping, dancing)
Feast for prodigal son
Luke 15:7…there will be more joy in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who need no repentance.
29

30. Celebrate!1.Be a regular
2.Be changed
3.Be a part
4.Be relational
5.Be a builder 30

31. Celebrate!
Nehemiah 7:1–5; 66–73
Nehemiah 8:1–18