VISUAL AID

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Powerful One, You alone can drive all my fears away. Remind me through my doubts and misgivings that You still care about me.

Read NEHEMIAH 8:13–18

^[13] On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. ^[14] They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month ^[15] and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”-as it is written. ^[16] So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. ^[17] The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. ^[18] Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.

Meditate

“Hope in the God of all our tomorrows provides optimism for the future and gives strength for today” (Haddon W. Robinson).

Think Further

“Come outside. Let’s sit in our Sukkoth. Keep your coats on.” We entered a tent covered outside with branches and decorated inside with fairy lights. “This week we spend as much time here as we can,” our Jewish friends explained. “The kids love it.” Their joy in the family enactment of the ancient Feast of Booths was almost enough to stop us shivering on this autumn evening.

In a world where words are many and cheap, there is something very powerful about acting out our faith. The Judeans have been preoccupied with constructing walls and building a community. Now the physical act of setting up tents by their family homes, in their courtyards where they socialize, by God’s house where they worship and in the places of business and travel is a heartfelt celebration of their identity. It takes them back to their ancestors’ experience, living in fragile tents in a dangerous wilderness as they sought the Promised Land. It calls them to gratitude for God’s faithfulness: now they are gathered in that land, once again returned from exile. It reminds them that obedience to his commands and trust in his provision are more important than bricks and mortar. It proclaims to the nations the joy of knowing they are part of a story where God takes his people on a journey of risk and adventure.

It is easy to become so settled in our lives, thinking insurance keeps every risk at bay, that we get spiritually stuck and complacent. As children and artists show us, there is great value in seeing and doing and feeling as well as hearing and reasoning. As we sense the fragility of personal and community edifices, our response can only be to thank God afresh for his care and throw ourselves on him for all our unknowns.

Apply

“Here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Heb. 13:14). Align your priorities.

Closing prayer

Gracious Lord, forgive me for choosing safety over Your call, security rather than obedience to You.

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