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102   THE CONVENTION TEACHER

Lesson VI.
May 9, 1948

EZRA LEADS A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL

SENIOR TOPIC: WHAT IS A REAL RELIGIOUS REVIVAL?
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8; 10:28-32.
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AUTHORIZED VERSION

1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all the could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand: the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone having knowledge, and having understanding;

29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into 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 judgments and his statutes;

30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves dearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
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REVISED VERSION

1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people who attentive unto the book of the law. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people); and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground. 8 And they read in the book, and the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone that had knowledge and understanding: 29 they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into 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 Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes; 30 and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 31 and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not by of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
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MOTTO TEXT – Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. James 1:22.
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LESSON SETTING

Time: B. C. 444
Place: Jerusalem.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. Ezra Reads the Law. (VV. 1-3)
II. Ezra Explains the Law. (VV. 5-6, 8)
III. The People Keep God's Command. (VV. 28-32)

DAILY HOME READING

May 3 – May 9
M. Ezra the Teacher. Ezra 7:1, 6-10.
T. Ezra Reads the Law to the People. Nehemiah 8:1-6.
W. Reading the Bible Distinctly. Nehemiah 8:7-8.
T. A Public Confession of Sin. Nehemiah 9:32-38.
F. O Promise to Keep God's Laws. Nehemiah 10:28-32.
S. "Why Is the House of God Forsaken?" Nehemiah 13:10-14.
S. "I Will Not Forget Thy Word." Psalms 119:9-16.

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THE CONVENTION TEACHER   103

INTRODUCTION

Ezra began a good work upon his return from Babylon and he left it to be advanced by Nehemiah who, though not such a scholar as Ezra, nor such a scribe in the law of his God, yet was a man of more active, energetic spirit.  His zeal set Ezra's preparation to work and then great things were done, as we see in the public and solemn reading and explaining of the law.  They observed the law which the people were ordered to hear upon that occasion. Then behold the solemn keeping of the feast of the tabernacle according to the law.  A covenant is sealed, with the Jews promising to have no relationship with idolatrous nations to observe the Sabbath and to pay the special amount names for the maintenance of the temple.

EXPOSITION

I. EZRA READS THE LAW. (VV. 1-3) (1) And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. Here is an account of a solemn religions gathering and the good work that was done at that meeting to the honor of God and the edification of the church.  The people assembled as one man into the street that was before the water gate - this is the place of the assembly.  The gate which led from the temple to the brook (Kidron). It was a spacious broad street, able to hold such a great multitude, which the court of the temple could not, for, probably it was not this time built nearby so large as it had been built in Solomon's time.  Sacrifices were to be offered only at the door of the temple, but praying and preaching and praising were and are services of religion as practiced and performed in one place as in another.

(2) And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.  That was the day of the feast of the temples, which is called a Sabbath, and on which they were to have a holy consecration.  But that was not all, for it was on that day that the altar was set up and they began to offer up their burnt offerings after their return out of captivity.  This time was the first day of what was called the civil year.  Ezra brought the law before the congregation both of men and women. Infants and young children not likely to receive instruction, were not expected to attend this meeting; but rather than a poor mother should be deprived of the ordinances of God, let her come with a child in her arms. 

(3) And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.  The presiding officer of this assembly was Ezra, the priest.  He was prepared, for he was a learned scribe in the law of his God. His call to the service was clear.  For being qualified as a scribe, the people spoke to him to bring the book of the law and read it to them.  God gave him ability and authority, then the people gave him invitation and opportunity.

II. EZRA EXPLAINS THE LAW. (VV. 5, 6, 8) (5) And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people:) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: His position was a convenient one.  He stood upon a tower of wood which they had made for the occasion.  He opened the book and upon its opening the people stood up. He handled the book with great reverence and solemnity in the sigh of all the people.  He brought it forth with a sense of the mercy of God to them in giving them the book: in giving them permission to read it; that it was not a spring shut up nor a fountain sealed. The taking of the book, and the opening of the seals were celebrated with joy and praise. 

(6) And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Ezra thanked God for His goodness, praised him verily, the people said truly God be blessed by Ezra, by us. Ezra was the people's mouth to God and they affectionately joined with him. He blessed the Lord as the great God, and gave honor to Him by praising His perfections and praying for His favour, and the people,