The sermon 'Reading of Nehemiah' involves an extended reading of the entire book of Nehemiah, emphasizing the purity and power of God's Word. The speaker highlights the intent to honor the Word of God as the best sermon. Nehemiah is introduced as a key figure who, as the King's cupbearer, is deeply moved by the distress of Jerusalem and leads efforts to rebuild the city walls. Despite facing opposition from figures like Sanballat and Tobiah, Nehemiah remains resolute, organizing the community for construction and setting up defenses. The sermon underscores the importance of communal worship, adherence to God's law, and the power of prayer, as seen in the communal reading of the law led by Ezra and the people's commitment to follow God's commandments. Nehemiah's leadership and dedication to God's work are portrayed as inspiring and pivotal in the restoration of Jerusalem.

I feel open to Psalm 19. It works out that we do something like today, maybe twice a year, where we're entering a new book and so we take the opportunity to just have a very extended reading, maybe an hour's worth of reading, which is sort of hard to hang in there for. But the intent is to honor the Word of God and just to have confidence that the pure words that God has given us are the best sermons that we'll ever get. They're the purest sermons. They're the most unmixed sermons that will ever come from this pulpit.

And so we're going to read all of Nehemiah, all 13 chapters today. My guess is it takes an hour and 10 minutes is what I'm sort of planning for, so we'll see. Psalm 19, I'd like to read Just verses 7 through 11. This is to the chief musician, a Psalm of David. It's the superscript on this Psalm.

The law of the Lord is perfect. This is verse 7. The law of the Lord is perfect. This is verse 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover, by them your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. Our God I thank you for your word that you've given your people this mighty deposit to help us in all of life. It comes to confront us, to rebuke us, to show us the way back to be reconciled to you, to lift up our Lord Jesus Christ, to teach us of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to give us truth, to show us what you think, to give us higher thoughts than our own and higher ways than our own.

I pray today our God that as it's read it would be sweeter than honey in the honeycomb, to our taste. Cause us to love this word of yours, in Jesus' name, Amen. So now we're going to go through Chapter by chapter starting with chapter one and Eddie burrows and then just proceeding through I Want you to consider a couple of ways to go about this one way would be the normal way Which is just to follow along? My attention span is sort of short and so it helps me to follow along. But another way would be to just keep your Bible closed and to keep your eyes on the readers and try to just follow along with what is said.

You might consider doing that at least for large portions of what we're doing. So now let's honor God's Word. Nehemiah chapter 1. The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. It came to pass in the month of Kislev and the 20th year as I was in Shushan the citadel that Han and I one of my brethren came with men from Judah and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.

And they said to me, the survivors who are left from the captivity in the Providence are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. So it was when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned for many days I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven and I said I pray Lord God of heaven oh great and awesome God you who keep the covenant and mercy with those who love you and obey and observe your commandments please let your ear be attentive and your eyes open that you may hear the prayer of your servant which I pray, excuse me, which I pray before you now day and night for the children of Israel, your servants, and confess the sin of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you, both my father's house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments the statues nor the ordinances which you have commanded your servant Moses remember I pray the words that you commanded your servant Moses saying if you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the nations but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them though some of you are cast out to the farthest part of the heavens yet I will gather them from there and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for my name.

Now these are your servants and your people whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. Oh Lord, I pray, please let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who desire to fear your name. Let your servant prosper this day I pray and grant him mercy in the sight of this man for I was the King's cup bearer. Chapter 2. And it came to pass in the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes when wine was before him that I took the wine and gave it to the king.

Now I had never been sad in his presence before. Therefore the king said to me, Why is your face sad since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart. So I became dreadfully afraid and said to the king, may the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my father's tombs lies waste and its gates are burned with fire?

Then the king said to me, what do you request? So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said to the king, if it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's tombs, that I may rebuild it. Then the king said to me, the queen also sitting beside him, how long will your journey be and when will you return? So it pleased the king to send me and I sent him a time. Furthermore, I said to the king, if it pleases the king, let letters be given to me for the governors of the region beyond the river, that they must permit me to pass through till I come to Judah.

And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he must give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel, which pertains to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house that I will occupy. And the king granted them to me according to the good hand of my God upon me. Then I went to the governors in the region beyond the river and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. When Sanballat and the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of it, they were deeply disturbed that a man had come to seek the well-being of the children of Israel.

So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. When I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, nor was there any animal with me except the one on which I rode. And I went out by night through the valley gate to the serpent well and the refuse gate and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which were burned with fire. Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king's pool, but there was no room for the animal under me to pass.

So I went up in the night by the valley and viewed the wall. Then I turned back and entered by the valley gate and so returned. And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done. I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, or the others who did the work. Then I said to them, you see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste and its gates are burned with fire.

Come let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said, let us rise up and build. Then they set their hands to this good work. But when Sambalot the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Gesham the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us and said, What is this thing that you are doing?

Will you rebel against the king? So I answered them and said to them, the God of heaven himself will prosper us therefore we his servants will rise and build you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem. Chapter 3. Then Eliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brother and the priest and built the sheep gate. They consecrated it and hung its doors.

They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred and consecrated it then as far as the Tower of Hananel. Next to Eliashib, the men of Jericho built. And next to them, Zachar, the son of Imri built. Also the sons of Hasenaya built, the fish Gate. They laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars.

And next to them, Melitiah, the Gibeonite, Jadon, the Mironathite, the men of Gibeon, and Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor of the next region beyond the river. Next to him, Uzzil, the son of Hariah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Also next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs. And they fortified Jerusalem as far as the broad wall. And next to them, Raffiah, the son of Her, leader of half the district of Jerusalem made repairs.

Next to them, Judiah, the son of Haramph, made repairs in front of his house. And next to him, Hadash, the son of Hashbaniah, made repairs. Malchaijah, the son of Haram, and Hashab, the son of Pahath Moab, repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Ovens. And next to him was Shalom, the son of Halaesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem. He and his daughters made repairs.

Hanan and the inhabitants of Zenoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, hung its doors with its bolts and bars, and repaired 1, 000 cubits of the wall as far as the refuse gate. Malchaidah, the son of Reqab, leader of the district of Beth-Heserim, repaired the refuse gate. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. Shalon, the son of Kol-Hozah, leader of the district of Mizpah, repaired the fountain gate.

He built it, covered it, hung its doors with its bolts and bars, and repaired the wall of the pool of Sheila by the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. After him, Nehemiah, the son of Asbuk, leader of half the district of Bethzer, made repairs as far as the place in front of the tombs of David, to the man-made pool and as far as the house of the mighty. After him, the Levites, under Rahum, the son of Bani, made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, leader of half the district of Kielah, made repairs for his district. After him, their brethren, under Bavai, the son of Hanadad, leader of the other half of the district of Kielah, made repairs.

And next to him, Ezur, the son of Jeshua, the leader of Mezpa, repaired another section in front of the ascent to the armory at the buttress. After him, Baruch, the son of Zebaie, carefully repaired the other section, from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib, the high priest. After him, Meramoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Chaz, repaired another section, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. And after him, the priest, the men of the plain, made repairs. After him, Benjamin and Hashab made repairs opposite their house.

After them, Azariah, the son of Maaseah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs by his house. After him, Benuah, the son of Hinnadad, repaired another section from the house of Azariah to the buttress even as far as the corner. Palau the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the buttress and on the tower which projects from the king's upper house that was by the court of the prison. After him, Padaya, the son of Parosh, made repairs. Moreover, the Nethanim, who dwelt in Ophul, made repairs as far as the place in front of the Watergate toward the east and on the projecting tower.

After them, the Koites repaired another section next to the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophul. Beyond the horse gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. After them, Zadok, the son of Emmer, made repairs in front of his own house. After him, Shemaiah, the son of Shekiniah, the keepers of the East Gate, made repairs. After him, Hananiah, the son of Shalmiah, and Hanan, the sixth son of Zaleph, repaired another section.

After him, Meshulam, the son of Barakaiah, made repairs in front of his dwelling. After him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the Nethanim and of the merchants in front of the Mifkeh gate, and as far as the upper room at the corner. And between the upper room at the corner, as far as the Sheik gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs. Chapter four. But it so happened when Sanballet heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant and mocked the Jews.

And he spoke before his brethren in the army of Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish, stones that are burned?

Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him and he said, Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall. Here O our God, for we are despised. Turn their approach on their own heads and give them as plunder to a land of captivity. Do not cover their iniquity and do not let their sin be blotted out from before you, for they have provoked you to anger before the builders." So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height for the people had a mind to work. Now it happened when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry.

And all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. Then Judah said, The strength of the laborers is failing, and there's so much rubbish that we're not able to build the wall. And our adversaries said, They will neither know nor see anything till we come into their midst and kill them and cause their work to cease. So it was when the Jews who dwelt near them came that they told us ten times from whatever place you turn they will be upon us.

Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall at the openings and I set the people according to their families with their swords their spears and their bows and I looked and arose and said to the nobles to the leaders and to the rest of the people do not be afraid of them remember the Lord great and awesome and fight for your brethren your sons your daughters your wives in your houses And it happened when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. So it was from that time on that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor, and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. Those who built on the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction and with the other hand held a weapon. Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built and the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, the work is great and extensive and we are separated far from one another on the wall. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there, our God will fight for us. So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. At the same time, I also said to the people, let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day. So neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes, except that everyone took them off for washing.

Chapter five. And There was a great outcry of the people and their wives against their Jewish brethren. For there were those who said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Therefore let us get grain that we may eat and live. There were also some who said we have mortgaged our lands in vineyards and houses that we might buy grain because of the famine.

And there were also those who said we have borrowed money for the king's tax on our lands and vineyards, yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children, and indeed we're forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been brought into slavery. It is not in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards." And I became very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. After serious thought, I rebuked the nobles and rulers and said to them, each of you is exacting usury from his brother. So I called a great assembly against them, and I said to them, according to our ability, we have redeemed our Jewish brethren who were sold to the nations. Now indeed, will you even sell your brethren?

Or should they be sold to us?" Then they were silenced and found nothing to say. Then I said, what you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies? I also, with my brethren and my servants, am lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop this usury.

Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves and their houses, also a hundredth of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil that you've charged them. So they said, we will restore it and will require nothing from them. We will do as you say. Then I called the priests and required an oath from them that they would do according to this promise. Then I shook out the fold of my garment and said, so may God shake out each man from his house and from his property who does not perform this promise even thus may he be shaken out and emptied and all the assembly said amen and praised the Lord then the people did according to this promise moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the 20th year until the 32nd year of King Artaxerxes, 12 years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor's provisions.

But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides 40 shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so because of the fear of God. Indeed, I also continued the work on this wall, and we did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there for the work. And at my table were 150 Jews and rulers, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.

Now that which was prepared daily was one ox and six choice sheep, also fowl were prepared for me. And once every 10 days an abundance of all kinds of wine. Yet in spite of this, I did not demand the governor's provisions because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember me, my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people. Chapter six.

Now it happened when Sanballat Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall, and that there were no breaks left in it, though at that time I had not hung the doors and the gates, that Sanballat and Gesham sent to me saying, Come, let us meet together among the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them saying, I am doing a great work so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it to go down to you? But they sent me this message four times, and I answered them in the same manner.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me as before, the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, it is reported among the nations, and Gesham says, that you and the Jews plan to rebel. Therefore, according to these rumors, you are rebuilding the wall that you may be their king. And you have also proclaimed prophets to proclaim concerning you at Jerusalem, saying, there is a king in Judah. Now these matters will be reported to the king.

So Come, therefore, and let us consult together.' Then I sent to him, saying, No such thing as you are saying are being done, but you invent them in your own heart. For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands." Afterwards I came to the house of Shemaiah, the son of Deliah, the son of Mahidebel, who was a secret informer. And he said, Let us meet together in the house of God within the temple and let us close the doors of the temple for they are coming to kill you. Indeed, at night they will come to kill you.

And I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. For this reason he was hired that I should be afraid and act that way and sin so that they might have cause for an evil report that they might reproach me. My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid." So the wall was finished on the 25th day of Elul in 52 days And it happened when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came to them. For many in Judah were pledged to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekeniah, the son of Arrah, and his son Jehoan had married the daughter of Mishulam, the son of Berechaiah. Also they reported his good deeds before me and reported my words to him. Tobias sent letters to frighten me. Nehemiah chapter 7 which is very very close to Ezra chapter 2 which it points back to.

Then it was when the wall was built and I had hung the doors when the gatekeepers the singers and the Levites had been appointed that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani and Hananiah the leader of the Citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. And I said to them, Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors, and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station, and another in front of his own house. Now the city was large and spacious but the people in it were few and the houses were not rebuilt. Then my God put it into my heart to gather the nobles, the rulers, and the people that they might be registered by genealogy.

And I found a register of the genealogy of those who had come up in the first return and found written in it, These are the people of the province who came back from the captivity, of those who had been carried away whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, every one to his own city. Those who came with Zerubbabel were Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Rehemiah, Nehemeni, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mizpareth, Big Vi, Nahum, and Bayana. The number of the men of the people of Israel, the sons of Perosh, 2, 172, the sons of Shefataya, 372, the sons of Arrah, 652, the sons of Pehathmoab, of the sons of Jeshua and Joab 2818. The sons of Elam 1254. The sons of Zattu, 845.

The sons of Zacchae, 760. The sons of Benui, 648. The sons of Bebai 628. The sons of Asgad 2322. The sons of Adonicum 667.

The sons of Bigvi 2067. The sons of Aden 655. The sons of Ater of Hezekiah, 98. The sons of Hashem, 328. The sons of Bezai, 324.

The sons of Haeroph, 112. The sons of Gibeon, 95. The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. The men of Anathoth, 128. The men of Beth-Azmaveth, 42.

The men of Kirjath-Jerim, Kierophah and Biroth, 743. The men of Rehma and Geba, 621. The men of Micmas, 122. The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. The men of the other Nebo, 52.

The sons of the other Elam, 1254. The sons of Harim, 320. The sons of Jericho, 345. The sons of Laud, Haded, and Ono, 721. The sons of Senea, 3, 930.

The priests, the sons of Judiah of the house of Jeshua, 973. The sons of Emmer, 1, 052. The sons of Pasher, 1, 247. The sons of Harem, 1, 017. The Levites, the sons of Jeshua of Cadmeo, and of the sons of Hodeva, 74.

The singers, the sons of Asaph, 148. The gatekeepers, the sons of Shalom, the sons of Adar, the sons of Talman, the sons of Akkab, the sons of Haditha, the sons of Shobai, 138. The nethonym, the sons of Zihah, the sons of Hasufa, the sons of Tabayoth, the sons of Keras, the sons of Seah, the sons of Paedon, the sons of Labanah, the sons of Hagabah, the sons of Salmi, the sons of Harhar, the sons of Baslyth, the sons of Mechida, the sons of Harsha, the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tema, the sons of Neziah, and the sons of Hetifa, the sons of Solomon's servants, the sons of Sothi, the sons of Seferoth, the sons of Perida, the sons of Jayalah, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Gidele, the sons of Sheffatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochareth, of Zebaim, and the sons of Amon. All the nethineb and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392. And these were the ones who came up from Telmela, Telharshah, Karab, Aden, and Emmer, but they could not identify their father's house nor their lineage, whether they were of Israel.

The sons of Deliah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nakoda, 642, and of the priests, the sons of Hibiah, the sons of Chaz, the sons of Barzalai, who took a wife of the daughter of Barzalai the Gileadite and was called by their name These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore, they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. And the governor said to them that they should not eat the most holy things, till a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim. Altogether the whole assembly was 42, 360, besides their male and female servants, of whom were 7, 337. And they had 245 men and women singers.

Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, their camels 435, and donkeys 6, 720. Some of the heads of the father's houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1, 000 gold drachmas, 50 basins, and 530 priestly garments. Some of the heads of the father's houses gave to the treasury of the work 20, 000 gold drachmas and 2, 200 silver minas. And that which the rest of the people gave was 20, 000 gold drachmas, 2, 000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the nethanim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities. Chapter 8. Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the water gate And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded Israel So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Watergate from the morning until midday before the men and women and those who can understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood, which they had made for the purpose. And beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattathiah, Shema, Aniah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masiah, and at his left hand Petyiah, Michelle, Melchaijah, Hashum, Hashpedana, Zachariah, and Meshulam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people, and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, Amen, Amen, while lifting up their hands.

And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Beni, Shurubiah, Jamin, Akub, Shebathai, Hadeja, Masiah, Kalita, Azariah, Jozebad, Hanan, Peleiah, and the Levites helped the people to understand the law and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book and the law of God, and they gave the sense and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, 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 nor weep, for all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, Be still, for the day is holy. Do not be grieved. And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. Now on the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the law.

And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded Moses that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month and that they should pronounce and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem saying, go out to the mountain and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees to make booths as it is written. Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the gate of Ephraim. So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths, for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the book of the law of God.

And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly according to the prescribed manner. According to the prescribed manner. Chapter 9. Now on the 24th day of this month, the children of Israel were assembled with fasting and sackcloth and with dust on their heads. Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners and they stood and confessed their sins and iniquities of their fathers.

And they stood up in their place and read from the book of the law of the Lord their God. For one fourth of the day and for another fourth, they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shepaniah, Bani, Sherebiah, Bani, and Canaanite stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the Lord their God. And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashpeniah, Sherebiah, Hudaishah, Shephaniah, and Patei said, stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever. Blessed be your glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

You alone are Lord. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts. The earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The host of heaven worships you. You are the Lord God who chose Abram and brought him out of the Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham.

You found his heart faithful before you and made a covenant with him. To give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Parisites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. To give it to his descendants. You have Performed your words for you are righteous You saw the affliction of your fathers in Egypt and heard their cry by the Red Sea You showed signs and wonders against Pharaoh Against all his servants and against all the people of his land For you knew that they acted proudly against them. You made a name for yourself as it is this day.

And you divided the sea before them so that they might, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land. And their persecutors you threw into the deep as a stone into the mighty waters. Moreover, you led them by day with a cloudy pillar and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the road which they should travel. You came down also on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them just ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. You made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws by the hand of Moses your servant.

You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought them water out of the rock for your for their thirst and told them to go into to possess the land which you had sworn to give them. But they and our fathers acted proudly hardened their necks and did not heed your commandments they refused to obey and they were not mindful of your wonders that you did among them but they hardened their necks and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage but you are God ready to pardon gracious and merciful slow to anger abundant and kindness and did not forsake them Even when they made a molded calf for themselves and said, This is your God that brought you up out of Egypt and worked your great provocations. Yet in your manifold mercies you did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day to lead them on the road, nor the pillar of fire by night to show them light and the way they should go. You also gave your good spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.

Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. Moreover, you gave them kingdoms and nations, and divided them into districts. So they took possession of the land of Sihon, the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Agh-king of Bashan.

You also multiplied their children as the stars of heaven and brought them into the land which you had told their fathers to go in and possess. So the people went in and possessed the land. You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands with their kings and the people of the land. That they might do with them as they wished, and that they took strong cities and a rich land and possessed houses full of all goods, cisterns already dug, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and grew fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness.

Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you, cast your laws behind their backs and killed your prophets who testified against them to turn them to yourself and they worked great provocations therefore you delivered them into the hand of their enemies who oppressed them and then the time of their trouble when they cried to you you heard from heaven and according to your abundant mercies you gave them deliverers who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they again did evil before you. Therefore you left them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies and testified against them, that you might bring them back to your law. Yet they acted proudly and did not heed your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them.

And they shrugged their shoulders, stiffened their necks, and would not hear. Yet for many years you had patience with them and testified against them by your spirit and your prophets, yet they would not listen. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercy, you did not utterly consume them nor forsake them, for you are God gracious and merciful. Therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and awesome God who keeps covenants and mercy, Do not let all the trouble seem small before you that has come upon us.

Our kings and princes, our priests and prophets, our fathers on all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this day. However you are just in all that has befallen us, for you have dealt faithfully, but we have done wickedly. Neither our kings nor our princes, our priests nor our fathers have kept your law, nor heeded your commandments and your testimonies with which you testified against them, for they have not served you in their kingdom, or in the many good things that you gave them, Or in the large and rich land which you set before them nor did they turn from their wicked works Here we are servants today and the land you gave to your our fathers to eat its fruit and its bounty Here we are servants in it and it yields much increase to King to the Kings you have set before over us because of our sins. Also they have dominion over our bodies and our cattle at their pleasure and We are in great distress and because of all of this we make a sure covenant and write it our Leaders our Levites and our priests seal it Chapter 10 Now those who placed their seal on the document were Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah and Zedekiah, Sariah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Saraiya, Azariya, Jeremiah, Pasher, Amariya, Malchaija, Haddish, Shebinaya, Malik, Haram, Merimoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnathon, Baruch, Mashulim, Abidja, Midjam, Meaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah.

These were the priests. The Levites, Jeshua, the son of Azeniah, Benui, of the sons of Hinnadad and Cadmiel, their brethren Shebeniah, Hodadijah, Kalita, Peliah, Hanan, Micah, Rahab, Hashabiah, Zachar, Micah, Rahab, Hashabiah, Zachar, Sherebayah, Shabaniah, Hodijah, Bani, and Benu. The leaders of the people, Parosh, Pahath Moab, Elam, Zatu, Bani, Benui, Asgad, Bebai, Adonija, Bigvai, Adin, Atter, Hezekiah, Azar, Hodija, Hashem, Bezai, Harif, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiyosh, Meshulam, Hezor, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaduwa, Pelataya, and Aniah. Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashab, Halohesh, Pilah, Shobak, Rahim, Hashpana, Measeah, Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Maluk, Haram, and Bana. Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the nethanyim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the land to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding.

These joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his ordinances and his statutes. Would we not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons. If the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day, and we would forgo the seventh year's produce and the exacting of every debt. Also, we made ordinances for ourselves to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God. For the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the set feast, for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God.

We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God according to our Father's houses at the appointed times year by year to burn on the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in the law. We made ordinances to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all trees year by year to the house of the Lord. To bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, to bring the first fruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil to the priest, to the store rooms of the house of our God, and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes. And the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.

For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain of the new wine and the oil To the store rooms where the articles of the sanctuary are Where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are and we will not neglect the house of our God Chapter 11 Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine tenths were to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem, but in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities, Israelites, priests, Levites, nethanyim, and descendants of Solomon's servants. Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin, The children of Judah, Athea, the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shefatiah, the son of Mahalel, of the children of Piraaz.

And Measeeh, the son of Barak, the son of Kohazah, the son of Hosea, the son of Edaea, the son of Joyarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shillani. All the sons of Pires who dwell at Jerusalem were 468 valiant men. And these are the sons of Benjamin, Salu, the son of Mishulim, the son of Joad, the son of Padea, the son of Kaleah, the son of Measeah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshea, and after him, Gabai and Salli, 928. Joel the son of Zikri was their overseer and Judah the son of Sinuah was second over the city. Of the priests, Judea, the son of Joyerib and Jaquen, Saraiah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Mishulam, the son of Zadok, the son of Mariamph, the son of Ahaitab, was the leader of the house of God.

Their brethren who did the work of the house were 822, and Adaiah, the son of Jeruam, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pasher, the son of Melchizedek, and his brethren, heads of the father's houses were 242, and Amashai, the son of Azarel, the son of Azai, the son of Meshileimoth, the son of Emmer, and their brethren, mighty men of valor, were 128. Their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. Also of the Levites, Shemaah, son of Hashem, the son of Ezrikim, the son of Heshabiah, the son of Bunai, Shabbathai, and Jozebed, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of the business outside of the house of God. Madinah, the son of Micah, the son of Zabdai, the son of Asaph, the leader who began the thanksgiving with prayer. Baqb'akiah, the second among his brethren, and Abba the son of Shemua, the son of Galal, the son of Judeuthan.

All the Levites in the holy city were 284. Moreover, the gatekeepers, Achaam, Talman, and their brethren who kept the gates were 172. And the rest of Israel, of the priests and Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, everyone in his inheritance. But the Nephthahim dwelt in Ophul, and Zihah and Gishba were over the Nephthahim. Also the overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzziah, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mataniah, the son of Micah, of the sons of Asaph, the singers in charge of the service of the house of God.

For it was the King's command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers a quota day by day. Pethi-hiah, the son of Meshazzabel, of the children of Zira, the son of Judah, was the King's deputy in all matters concerning the people. And as for the villages with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kir Jaffa Arba in its villages, Diabon in its villages, Jekab Zael in its villages, and Jeshua, Moledah, Beth Pilate, Hazer Shul, and Bersheba in its villages, and Ziklag and Makona in its villages, and in Remin, Zora, Jarmuth, Zenoah, Adalim in their villages, and Lakish in its fields, and Azika in its villages. They dwelt from Bersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. Also the children of Benjamin from Giba dwelt in McMash, Ija, and Bethel, and their villages, in Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, in Hazer, Rhema, Gitaim, in Hadid, Ziboyim, Nebalet, Enlod, Ono, and the Valley of Craftsmen.

Some of the Judean divisions of the Levites were in Benjamin. Chapter 12, in which there are two large thanksgiving choirs. Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua. Sariah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Maluk, Hattush, Shekiniah, Rahum, Marimof, Ito, Genathoi, Abijah, Majumin, Meyadiyah, Bilge, Shemiah, Joyerib, Judiah, Salu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Judiah. These were the heads of the priests and their brethren in the days of Jeshua.

Moreover, the Levites were Jeshua, Benui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mataniah who led the thanksgiving Psalms he and his brethren. Also, Bakpachaiah and Unni, their brethren stood across from them in their duties. Jeshua begot Joachim. Joachim begot Eliashib. Eliashib begot Joyada.

Joyada begot Jonathan and Jonathan begot Jaduah. Now in the days of Joyakim the priests, the heads of the Father's houses were of Saraiah Moriah, of Jeremiah Hananiah, of Ezra Mishulam, of Amariah Jehohanan, of Melikhu Jonathan, of Shabaniah Joseph, of of Shabbaniah Joseph, of Harem Adna, of Mereoth Helki, of Ido Zechariah, of Ginnathon Meshulam, of Abijah Zikri, of the sons of Minjamim, of Moyadaya Peltai, of Bilge Shemua, of Shemaya Jehonathan, of Joyarib, Matinai of Judiah, Uzi of Salli, Kalli of Amok, Eber of Hilkiah, Hashabiah and of Judiah, Nethanel. During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their father's houses in the days of Eliashib, Joyada, Jehohanan, and Jaduah. The sons of Levi, the heads of the father's houses until the days of Johanan, the son of Eliashib, were written in the book of the Chronicles. And the heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Cadmeo, with their brothers across from them to praise and give thanks, group alternating with group according to the command of David the man of God.

Mataniah, Bakbacaiah, Obadiah, Mishulim, Talman, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch of the store rooms of the gates. These lived in the days of Joachim the son of Jeshua the son of Josadach and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites and all their places to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Asmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. Then the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the refuse gate. After them went Hoshea and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Mishulam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, and some of the priest's sons with trumpets. Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mataniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakur, the son of Asaph, and his brethren Shemaiah, Azaral, Milili, Gilili, Maya, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani with the musical instruments of David the man of God and Ezra the scribe went before them by the fountain gate in front of them they went up the stairs of the city of David on the stairway of the wall beyond the house of David as far as the water gate eastward The other Thanksgiving choir went the opposite way. I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of Ephraim, above the Old Gate, above the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate, and they stopped by the Gate of the Prison.

So the two Thanksgiving choirs stood in the house of God, likewise I and the half of the rulers with me, and the priests Eliakim, Measeeh, Minjamim, Milkiah, Elionai, Zachariah, and Hananiah with trumpets. Also Measeeh, Shemaiah, Eliezer, Uzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The singers sang loudly and Jezrehiah with Jezrehiah the director. Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced for God had made them rejoice with great joy. The women and the children also rejoiced so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the first fruits, and the tithes to gather into them from the fields of the cities, the portions specified by the law for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered. Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their God and the charge of the purification according to the command of David and Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers a portion for each day.

They also consecrated holy things for the Levites and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron. For the children of Aaron. What a sweet picture. Nehemiah chapter 13 last chapter. On the day they read from the book of Moses and the hearing of all the people and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God because they had not met with the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them.

However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. So it was when they had heard the law that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. Now before this, Eliashib, the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God was allied with Tobiah and he had prepared for him a large room where previously they had stored the grain offerings the frankincense the articles the tithes of grain the new wine and oil which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers and the offerings for the priests. But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had returned to the king. And after certain days I obtained leave from the king.

And I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me bitterly, and therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room, then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms, and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense. I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them. For each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. So I contended with the rulers and said, Why is the house of God forsaken?

And I gathered them together and set them in their place. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shelahmiah, the priest, and Zadok, the scribe, and of the Levites, Padaiah. And next to them was Hanan, the son of Zekor, the son of Mataniah, for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren, remember me, oh my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for its services." In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath and bringing in sheaves and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.

Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, what evil thing is this that you do by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city, yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. So it was at the gates of Jerusalem as it began to be dark before the Sabbath that I commanded the gates to be shut and charged that they must not be open till after the Sabbath. And then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.

And now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Then I warned them and said to them, why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time on, they came no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, that they should go and guard the gates to sanctify the Sabbath day.

Remember me, oh my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy. In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them, and pulled out their hair and made them swear by God, saying, you shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things?

Yet among many nations, there was no king like him who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, pagan women caused even him to sin. Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women? And one of the sons of Joyda, the son of Elisha, the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat, the Horonite, and therefore I drove him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

Thus I cleanse them of everything pagan. I also assign duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O my God, for good. Father, I thank you for the reading of your word and I pray that you would bless us as we work slowly and carefully through Nehemiah that this would be just what we need at this point in time. Ask it in Jesus' name.

Amen.