Sermon: Refreshed by the Word
Here at Beulah this final word usually contains some words of invitation - to become a Christian, to talk over some struggle in your life. There are some words of dismissal – something about “going out.” And there is a final blessing, called a benediction - a combination of two words – “bene” – meaning “well” or “good” – and “diction” - which means “speaking” or simply “word.” The Benediction is “the good word.” As always, we will hear this final, good word today at the end of our worship service. It is a good word that we all need to hear, and remember, and live out each and every day. In today’s lesson from Nehemiah we have already heard a final, good word. It is certainly among the most unusual benedictions ever written in the Bible – and it is one that you and I have likely never heard at the end of a worship service. This benediction, and an awareness of how this particular benediction came about, it also a word we very much need to hear and put into practice. This particular benediction contains an answer to our fears and our anxiety – and it offers us a never-ending source of refreshment for our lives as we confront the anxiety and grief and stress that is often around us. This final, good word here in Nehemiah, spoken over 2,500 years ago, remains a word to us, today, in our time and situation. At this time in the history of ancient Israel, around 538 BC, the people of Israel had just returned from their years of exile in Babylon. Some 60 years earlier the Babylonians had invaded and defeated the Southern Kingdom of Israel (called “Judah”), and took the people into exile. Later the Babylonians were themselves invaded and defeated by the Persians. Such is the back and forth nature of war – a lesson we have seen over and over again for centuries. King Cyrus of Persia granted release for the exiled people of Judah – and they returned – by some estimates over 40,000 people went back to Jerusalem and the surrounding region. What they found was in ruins - a destroyed Temple, the walls of Jerusalem reduced to rubble – it was all depressing and despairing. Fortunately Cyrus also sent some financial assistance, detailed in these books, which helped in the rebuilding effort. Still it was rough going – and there was a great deal of despair and fear on the part of those who returned from the exile. The number one priority became the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem, which meant protection from other possible invaders. Nehemiah becomes the new governor of Jerusalem, and Ezra the priest – and they work together with the people to complete this huge task. By chapter 8, after years of work and sweat, the walls are finished, and Nehemiah and Ezra decide it is time to mark this occasion. It has been years since the people were able to hold a covenant renewal ceremony – years since they could celebrate the Passover – or any of their Jewish feast days. So they plan one. The Temple of course is still in ruins – so Nehemiah and Ezra pick an outdoor square along the newly completed wall, by the Water Gate. A wooden platform is built – something like a chancel area, and a pulpit – and Ezra brings the Torah - the book of the Law of God, portions of the first five books of the Old Testament in our Bible. Now remember – back then people did not have their own Bibles as we do. Ezra had what was likely one of the few copies of the Torah that existed. Many people did not know the stories, and during the exile those who did would not have heard them for a long time. And it had been many years since the people could celebrate such a Covenant Renewal Service in their own land. We’ve heard the account of the service. Ezra opens the Book – he unrolls the scroll - and everybody stands up - and Ezra starts to pray. He blesses the LORD, the great God - their God - the God who brought them back from exile, returned them to their land, who once again showed them steadfast love and faithfulness. Ezra finishes the prayer, the people said “Amen – Amen.” Not just one Amen – like I continually encourage all of us to say at the end of our prayers here in worship – but two Amens. After the prayer Ezra he starts to read – and the reading takes a long while – “from early morning to midday.” I wonder if anybody fussed that the service went over an hour. Ezra, along with preaching assistants, helped the people understand the readings. Together they “made clear the meaning” and “gave the sense” of the reading. In other words they interpreted the written text – something we continue to do to this day in sermons and in Bible study – we interpret what is written there. As we do this, we often find that we ourselves are interpreted by what we read – the words and the message speak to our hearts and our lives in a deep and convicting way. It is and can be a literal life changing event. That’s just what happened to the people that day – they understood the reading, there hearts and lives were touched in a deep way – so deeply in fact that the people began to weep during the sermon. Imagine – they were so moved, so convicted, so touched that tears started to well up in there eyes. Now we do not know exactly what portions of the Torah Ezra read – or what specific interpretation was given. Maybe he read from Deuteronomy 7 - about why God brought them out of slavery in Egypt – not because they were more numerous than other peoples, or smarter or better than any body else - but because the Lord loves them, and keeps his promises to them, “as to this day.” Maybe he read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 – and the people realized that their daily living did not match up so well to those commandments. Perhaps others saw that their attitude and actions toward others was a far cry from God’s approach of steadfast love and forgiveness toward them. Sometimes when we hear the Word of the Lord, we react in a similar way. By what we would call the inner conviction of the Holy Spirit, the Word of the Lord cuts into our hearts and our lives – and lays bear the disconnect, the distance between God and God’s ways, and something in our lives. And that awareness can hurt. It hurts when we realize that our lives are not what God would want them to be. And we need God’s forgiving and healing power, and the comfort and love and forgiveness from those near us. And that’s just what Ezra and Nehemiah give to the people in this final word of dismissal and benediction. It is a benediction beyond all benedictions – a word of grace and forgiveness and encouragement and joy: "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Then the story teller concludes this story: “And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” Now that’s some benediction! Go have a party – eat fat things – like meat – an Atkins diet meal. Drink sweet wine. You know what sweet wine does to you, right. Go and take delight in these good gifts of God – and don’t forget those who have less than you do – send some portions for them. Don’t be sad, don’t be grieved. Even though something you heard from the Lord cut you to the heart, don’t be sad of grieved. Instead be joyful – be encouraged and be strengthened in the joy of the Lord – the joy God has for you, and the joy that God offers to you. What a refreshing word - a final, good word to that gathered congregation and to us. Like them, as we face our fears and anxiety, as we deal with the disappointments of our personal circumstances – when we feel separated from God – and when we know that we are not right with God or with others – no matter what – we have this gift of the joy of the Lord – which is our strength and our encouragement. The mystic Juliana of Norwich said it like this: "The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of God’s love." Know that – understand that – and let us all live like that – today, and all our days. And all God’s people said. Amen.
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