How to Study the Bible

1. How to Study the Bible Nehemiah 8:1-18

2. Eusebius heard of one whose eyes were burned, but could recite the Scriptures from memory.

3. Eusebius heard of one whose eyes were burned, but could recite the Scriptures from memory. • Beza could repeat all of Paul’s Epistles at age 80.

4. Eusebius heard of one whose eyes were burned, but could recite the Scriptures from memory. • Beza could repeat all of Paul’s Epistles at age 80. • Augustine said that after his conversion he ceased to cherish Cicero & that the Scriptures became his pure delight.

5. Unfortunately, we live in an age where Bible study is almost a thing of the past.

6. Unfortunately, we live in an age where Bible study is almost a thing of the past. • 93% of Americans own a Bible, but half have never read it.

7. Unfortunately, we live in an age where Bible study is almost a thing of the past. • 93% of Americans own a Bible, but half have never read it. • Only 18% of those claiming to be Christians read the Scriptures daily.

8. We need to be a people “of the Book.”

9. In order to be a “people of the Book,” we need to know how to study the Book.

10. In order to be a “people of the Book,” we need to know how to study the Book. • When Ezra reads the Law to the people, we have a prime example of how to study Scripture.

11. Nehemiah 8:1-18

12. PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD SCRIPTURE vv 1-5

13. “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. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood” (vv 1-5, ESV).

14. The Jews were eager to hear Scripture.

15. The Jews were eager to hear Scripture. • They gathered around Ezra to hear the Law.

16. The Jews were eager to hear Scripture. • They gathered around Ezra to hear the Law. • This occurred at the Feast of Booths when the Law was to be read (Deut 31:10-11).

17. The Jews were eager to hear Scripture. • They gathered around Ezra to hear the Law. • This occurred at the Feast of Booths when the Law was to be read (Deut 31:10-11). • Thus, the people are asking Ezra to do what God has commanded.

18. The Jews were eager to hear Scripture. • They gathered around Ezra to hear the Law. • This occurred at the Feast of Booths when the Law was to be read (Deut 31:10-11). • Thus, the people are asking Ezra to do what God has commanded. • But, these Jews could have ignored what God had said.

19. All the people were there.

20. All the people were there: “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” (v 2, ESV).

21. All the people were there: “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” (v 2, ESV). • Everyone who could understand came to this assembly.

22. All the people were there: “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” (v 2, ESV). • Everyone who could understand came to this assembly. • We struggle with those who aren’t interested in hearing the Word of God.

23. The people stood & listened to the Law being read for about 6 hours.

24. The people stood & listened to the Law being read for about 6 hours. • “From morning until midday” would have been approximately 6 hours.

25. The people stood & listened to the Law being read for about 6 hours. • “From morning until midday” would have been approximately 6 hours. • How many of us would want to hear Scripture for 6 straight hours?

26. Let us to be eager to hear the Word of God!

27. The ears of the people were attentive to the Law.

28. The ears of the people were attentive to the Law. • We also need to be attentive to the Word of God.

29. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives.

30. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives. • Scripture can help us overcome temptation.

31. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives. • Scripture can help us overcome temptation: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:11, ESV).

32. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives. • Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11). • Scripture has the power to convict us of sin.

33. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives. • Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11). • Scripture has the power to convict us of sin: “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12, ESV).

34. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives. • Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11). • Scripture has the power to convict us of sin: (Heb 4:12). • Scripture will judge us at the law day.

35. What Scripture says has a great impact on our lives. • Scripture can help us overcome temptation: (Ps 119:11). • Scripture has the power to convict us of sin: (Heb 4:12). • Scripture will judge us at the law day: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (Jn 12:48, ESV).

36. We need to be reverent when Scripture is proclaimed.

37. We need to be reverent when Scripture is proclaimed. • When Ezra opened the Law, all the people stood.

38. We need to be reverent when Scripture is proclaimed. • When Ezra opened the Law, all the people stood. • Standing is a sign of great respect.

39. We need to be respectful when Scripture is proclaimed.

40. How is your attitude toward Scripture?

41. Proper Preaching of Scripture vv 7-8

42. “Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading” (vv 7-8, ESV).

43. Rabbinic tradition says that these men translated the Law from Hebrew to the Aramaic the people would have spoken.

44. Rabbinic tradition says that these men translated the Law from Hebrew to the Aramaic the people would have spoken. • That could very well be.

45. Rabbinic tradition says that these men translated the Law from Hebrew to the Aramaic the people would have spoken. • That could very well be. • What’s obvious is that the people had trouble understanding the Law & these men helped them understand it.

46. Parts of Scripture are difficult to understand.

47. Parts of Scripture are difficult to understand. • Peter about Paul’s writings: “There are some things in them that are hard to understand” (2 Pt 3:16, ESV).

48. Proper preaching helps people understand Scripture.

49. These men read distinctly from the Law of God.

50. These men read distinctly from the Law of God. • They didn’t tell a bunch of stories, but they read from the Law.