Feast of Tabernacles aka Festival of Booths
Nehemiah 8:2, 3, 13-18 or 8:13-18
International Sunday School Lesson
August 4, 2013
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
Revival! Plant that word between your ears and keep it there!
When we read today’s scripture we might think that we are reading that the people hadn’t done what the word of God had instructed them to be doing. We might think this especially when we read that “from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this.”
We would be right in the sense that what we should understand is that for generations the people had simply gone through the motions. After this week of meetings hearing the word of God the people were revived.
How is your church doing? Is it sinking, diminishing in numbers? Or is it rising, growing in numbers? In either case there may be a need for revival.
When I was young living at home every so often our church would have revival meetings. We don’t see that happening any more. Where I worship our numbers have grown by leaps and bounds and I don’t think people see the need for a revival like we used to see, but I do.
Back in the day revivals meant coming to church throughout the week. We heard different voices evangelizing those who attended. We heard different music. We ate differently and we opened our homes as hosts. We saw different people in attendance from the community. The pastor had someone he could relate to in a way that he needed.
Every one of us needed what those Revival Meetings brought to us and just as the people in today’s scripture needed it then so do we now. Just as the people requested Ezra to read the Word, so do we the church need to request revival. Will you?
For Discussion:
1. Discuss how you might go about having a revival meeting
2. If you currently are having revivals discuss how you might help your brothers and sisters who are not
3. Discuss how you might have a Festival of Booths theme for a revival
4. Discuss all the things that a revival brings from reenergizing people, to building the sense of unity, to new ways to share the gospel in the community and so on
5. Discuss that all came together in today’s scripture from men to women to all who could understand
6. Consider your own need for revival
Upcoming Lessons
8-11-13: Community of Confession Nehemiah 9:2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 30-36
8-18-13: Dedication of the Wall Nehemiah 12:27-38, 43 or 12:27-36, 38, 43
8-25-13: Sabbath Reforms Nehemiah 13:10-12, 15-22
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
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