Missing the Point

   Have you ever read a passage from Scripture and wondered where on earth is the lesson? As I unpacked the lesson plan for my last children's sermon, I had this nagging feeling.  The Leader's guide told me to focus on the importance of God's Word and suggested that we create baggies containing ingredients to make s'mores.  I found it humorous.  The activity was based on six little words found in verse 10, 'eat the fat, and drink sweet wine.' I had to pray for wisdom; I needed a nudge of inspiration.  I didn't want the lesson to fall on deaf ears, distracted by chocolate and marshmallows.  I watched the two brief videos included with the lesson.  The first, only 1 minute, forty-seven seconds felt shallow.  The second was corny.  Even within the large group setting, the leader refused to share the corny one.  Admittedly, my brain does not enjoy shallow thinking, but I enjoy a worthy laugh like anyone else.  I refused to miss a perfect opportunity to teach, so my only option was to stand up and be accountable. 

     If I had encountered Nehemiah 8:1-12 in my daily reading, I confess that I would have pondered this lesson far less.  Do you ever fail to get your shovel out and dig for the truth?  Last week I treated these twelve verses like an archeologist searching for a valuable treasure.  I knew that there was more truth than my eye could recognize on the surface.  In my search, I uncovered a way to present the lesson.  I would teach the kids how to ask questions and seek answers.  I want them to discover all the mysteries God has prepared for us to find.  When we approach Scriptures as an adventure, I am fascinated to see how the Holy Spirit sheds new light on old Words.  He encourages me to venture into uncertainty.  His guidance is more noticeable the more I have to dig. 

     When uninspired by a Scripture reading, what do you do?  I know for me, I have to alter my approach to discover what I'm missing.  Before digging more deeply into this children's sermon, I decided to list the various ways to uncover content while studying God's Word.  As the list grew longer, I found myself getting more excited to share this lesson.  I often begin by using an audible verse of the Bible, allowing my eyes to follow the Words on the page while listening to someone else's voice.  I find inflection or placing more emphasis on a phrase, or a word has been an amazingly effective tool. 

Literature:

    Would you agree that Medieval literature contains far less descriptive elements than modern English?  Please take time to read Nehemiah 8:1-12 as you would typically read your Bible.  Now compare that to the way you typically read a novel.  Once you've read it, can you give me a thumbnail sketch of what you've just read in a few sentences? Here's what I mean.  Ezra is reading the Bible to a group of people for a lengthy amount of time.  The listeners appear to be paying attention and actively participating (in true Pentecostal style – raising their hands, shouting in agreement, laying on the floor face down.)  Okay, so I embellished just a bit in that parenthetical response.  The Levites roam around the crowd and help them to understand the message.  The people begin to cry.  Leadership wants them to celebrate, so they give the crowd instructions to enjoy a potluck dinner, drink some wine, and share what you have with others.  We call this fellowship.    

     Now it's time to roll up our sleeves, say a prayer, and dig a little deeper.

      Did you know that the Bible contains three distinct literary styles?  Narrative or stories make up 43% of Bible literature.  Poetry represents another 33%, and scholars call the last 24% Prose Discourse.  The text we have just read falls into the category called historical narrative.  Two other forms of narrative, parabolic (or parables) and biographical, find their way into Scriptures as well.  According to The Bible Project, stories in the Bible are much more complex than they appear.  In modern literature, authors go to great lengths to describe the characters and establish the setting to give us a delightful imaginary experience.  It helps us enter into the story.  Let me ask you, what does Ezra look like?  What was he wearing?  What color is his hair, his eyes, his skin?  Was he tall or short, slim or stocky?  How old was he?  Where was he from?  Did he have any family in town?  Was he married?  It's not as harmful as one might think to fill in the gaps or try to imagine the characters or the setting, but that is unnecessary for our understanding.

     On the other hand, we are told that King Saul was tall and handsome, and Jesus' appearance was nothing special.  Our eyes would be drawn to Saul, but we would not be lured by Jesus' beautiful long flowing hair, his deeply set compassion eyes, nor the adorable dimple on his chin.  Although I admit, I often imagine my response when someday I gaze upon His holy face.  The Bible tells us crowds gathered around Jesus to hear his words and observe signs and wonders.  Today, our celebrity attraction was much like how Samuel was drawn to Saul, not how the crowds were drawn to Jesus.  When the Bible uses language to describe a person's appearance, it is far more significant than we think.  It may be symbolic and show up in other places in Scripture.  We know from 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." "

     As you might have guessed, we will explore a few concepts as we look for more complexity with the Nehemiah 8 story.

Setting:

     If you are familiar with the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, it may not be new news that they were recorded on one scroll before we separated them into two books in our Old Testament.  Ezra receives credit for both writings, although Nehemiah is a close contender for the second book.  He does not receive credit for this writing as he was considered disagreeable, so some commentators believe.  They prove their point with the later chapters of this writing.  The books of 1 and 2 Esdras included in the Apocryphal writings (included in the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Ethiopian Bibles) retell this story.  With one exception, Esdras appears to include a legend about three lads and a king; one is presumably Zerubbabel.

     The events in the overall story take place in the 5th century BCE (Before the Common Era), or about 450 to 500 years before the birth of Christ.  When we look at when a story takes place, it helps us identify surrounding circumstances.  It might help us identify parallel stories or identify who ruled, prophesied, what philosophies influenced thinking, or spiritual practices.  It is often relevant to know what has happened before and after the story takes place to put it into context.     

     Let's put the pieces together in a timeline. Solomon's temple was destroyed in 586 BC.  The Israelites were held captive by the Babylonians for 70 years.  Zerubbabel, whose name means "one sown in Babylon," appears to be born during the dispersion.  He was part of the first wave of returning refugees.  He entered Jerusalem with approximately 42,000 people.  He builds an altar; then, he begins to fulfill his commission to rebuild the temple.  He starts work on the temple in 536 BC and finishes in 516 BC.  It doesn't take 20 years to build the temple because of its magnificence (like Solomon's), but it is slowed and stalled by local opposition. 

     Another 70 or 80 years pass after the first return under Zerubbabel.  Ezra, the scribe and priest, returns with about 1700 people; this is called the second wave.  This return seems to take place around 458BC, about 58 years following the completion of the second temple.  It was during this visit that Ezra would confront the Israelites about marrying outsiders. 

     Nehemiah's visit is referred to as the third wave and appears to be around 445 BC to rebuild the wall surrounding Jerusalem.  Many times when we read Scriptures, our minds convince us to place stories in order.  We assume that we are reading accounts in chronological order and events happen in close succession to one another.  It is worth taking time to investigate timelines because they can place a completely different spin on our understanding.

Hidden Details:

     Let's read a few verses together.  The ESV Bible includes a caption entitled, "Ezra Reads the Law;" the passage underneath reads, "And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra, the scribe, to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel.  So, Ezra, the priest, brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.  And he 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."  (See Nehemiah 8:1-3)

     I've taken time to underline words or phrases found within these three verses to draw your eye to things we might overlook.  We might assume that these things aren't relevant, but we might discover how they impact the story. Let's ask some questions.  

What is the Water Gate?

      We learn that the Water Gate is a landmark used to establish the setting for Ezra's reading.   It takes place in a courtyard, not in the temple.  Could it be that the temple was too small for the crowd, described as men and women and all those who could understand?  We don't know the age of accountability, but it's clear that 'understanding' was the criteria used to determine who was present.  Maps provide us with an approximate location for the Water Gate on the city's southeast side.  Maps are a helpful tool. 

     We know that the Water Gate appears to be located between two other well-known gates:  The Fountain Gate and the Horse Gate.  Many believe that the Water Gate represents the Word of God and Revival.  Concluding this association comes from this story and the association between water and the Word in other Bible passages, like Ephesians 5:26 and Psalm 119:9-10.  It is not a long stretch to think about water as an agent to quench thirst, nor to cleanse.    

     Today we associate the word "Watergate" with a past Presidency, where a scandal took place and truth was revealed, a place of judgment.  Could this be a coincidence? 

What is a Scribe?

     A scribe draws up legal documents and copies the Old Testament Scriptures by hand what we can learn from Ezra's associated titles, scribe, and priest, that he was an educated man.   He could both read and write, and Ezra 7:10 (ESV) says, "Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel."  It doesn't stretch our imagination to consider that literacy wasn't common in that era.  According to James Crenshaw, Emeritus Professor at Duke University, "The crowning achievement of literary in Israel, the Hebrew Bible, aims to ennoble, not destroy lives.  In it, scribes explore the complex relationship between humans and God.  From the second century BCE into the Common Era, the Dead Sea Scrolls and works originating in Alexandra and elsewhere (the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha) continue this endeavor.  Still, those who could read and write at this time--mostly men--made up a small percentage of the population." Who looked up emeritus, ennoble, and Pseudepigrapha?  Come now, we must get better at digging!

What is the First Day of the Seventh Month?

     We learn about establishing the Jewish calendar and the seven festivals God commanded they observe, beginning with Passover.  As we celebrate Easter, we recognize the significance of dates and that many of these events commemorate.  We may be more familiar with some and less familiar with others.  In Numbers 29:1, we learn about this celebration. "On the first day of the seventh month, you shall have a holy convocation.  You shall not do any ordinary work.  It is a day for you to blow the trumpets." According to the "Got Questions" website, the service that is taking place in Nehemiah 8 is called "The Feast of Trumpets.  It is the prelude to two other significant events in the same month called Tishri.  Here is what they had to say about it. "The Feast of Trumpets was important for several reasons. First, it commemorated the end of the agricultural and festival year. Also, the Day of Atonement fell on the tenth day of this month, and the Festival of Booths began on the fifteenth day. The blowing of the trumpets on the first day of the month heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement; this preparation time was called "Ten Days of Repentance" or the "Days of Awe." The trumpet sound was an alarm of sorts and can be understood as a call to introspection and repentance."

     Might this explanation help us recognize the reason why the Israelites responded with weeping when the Governor, Nehemiah, corrected them?

Who Are the Characters? 

     Like most stories, I find it most fascinating to learn about the character's personalities or appearance.  It is these attributes that often cause us to develop a relationship with them.  In this story, we are introduced to Ezra, Nehemiah, the Levites, and All the People who were listening and learning.  Without aids to help us visualize what they look like, we might understand their roles or responsibilities.  The Bible often uses metaphors to describe things where we find no relatable words.  For example, Ezra, the spiritual leader, must have been like a Shepherd, Nehemiah, the Governor, possibly an overseer or judge.  He brings up things he is observing and makes judgment calls on whether the response is appropriate.  (We see more of this character in later chapters when Nehemiah critically reviews what is going on in the temple, with the observance of the Sabbath, and what's going on surrounding the wall he built.)  Some might call him a whistle-blower.  The Levites were teaching from Ezra's reading.  We might consider them Small Group Leaders, and the people would be students (or, in Biblical terms, Sheep.)

What is the Plot?

     When we read stories, it is the plot that carries us along from beginning to end.  Often a plot includes identifying (1) an underlying desire, (2) a conflict or opposition, and (3) a resolution.  Unless you are tracking with the overall story found in Ezra and Nehemiah, you probably would be making up the plot in your mind.  One might conclude that after a long period of attentive listening and participation in a worship service, the people grew hungry, or hangry and they began to weep.  The resolution was to offer them good food, good drink, and fellowship.  This might be the conclusion of my Sunday School class if I asked them to explain why our activity was to create a sweet treat of s'mores.  If I cannot develop a way to show the kids the importance of Bible stories that make up 43% of Scriptures, what can I offer them?

     Who among us would open a story and begin reading some random page and expect to understand the content?  It was worth the eight-and-a-half minutes I invested in watching The Bible Projects artful Overview and sharing a poster with my Sunday School class to show them exactly when this story was taking place within the bigger story that included evidence of desires, conflict, and resolutions like a typical story would.  

Is there a Pattern?

     From this lesson, we could easily explore the pattern for Jewish Feasts, why they were celebrated, and when they occurred.  This story provides evidence that the people were called to celebrate and remember.  That is precisely what these celebrations were meant to do.  We could explore the month of Tishrei (the seventh month) and talk about what takes place on the 1st, 10th, and 15th of the month.  We could look at the significance of these Jewish Feasts in the past and what they point to in the future.  One might venture into the book of Revelations to see how the Trumpets are represented in the End Times. 

     We could notice the pattern of worship that was revealed in verse six. "And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." Then we could talk about how this resembles our own form of worship.  We could talk about the upcoming Day of Atonement to see how the people's hearts had been turned toward God and why weeping would be a natural response to repentance.

     We might also talk about what other Bible stories follow a similar pattern to the one we are reading in the book of Ezra and Nehemiah.  For example, the Israelites who were held captive in Babylonia should remind us of the Israelites who had been enslaved in Egypt.  In the Exodus story, the Egyptians are so happy for the Israelites to leave that they offer them silver, gold, pottery, clothing, and livestock to go.  In this story, King Cyrus, in Persia, offers resources for the Israelites to rebuild.  In both stories, God provides exactly what they need. 

     Another thing we could explore is whether the story itself is symbolic.  For example, when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, one might expect them to rebuild the wall first and then rebuild the temple while teaching the people about their spiritual identity.  Might it dawn on us that the Israelites followed another pattern than what we might expect?  Could the altar and the temple represent the heart of the people, the location where God resides (symbolically), the Word represents the refreshing of their faith, and the wall represents God's protection when they invest themselves in the Word?  We often attempt to clean ourselves up from the outside in, but in this story, it was from the inside out. 

What about Genealogies?

     Now that you think I am a real Bible nerd, I have to admit that I sometimes enjoy seeking information from genealogies.  Why would God include those minute details?  I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that at least twelve of the Levites whose names were named in Nehemiah are also found in 1 Chronicle 9.  Go ahead and look, I dare you!

     I hope you find this article helpful to show that we have many options for studying Scriptures more effectively.  This is just the tip of the iceberg on how the Holy Spirit wants us to engage with Him as we dive into Scriptures. Let's imagine that time spent in the Scriptures is an Adventure.