Building and Re-Building

This series of studies aims to follow Nehemiah’s journal of his experience of reforming the Old Testament Church – in particular the rebuilding and reformation of Jerusalem.

Israel was the church in the Old Testament. When Jesus came, he totally reformed that church so that instead of having external laws and a stone temple that taught about God and his will for them – Jesus himself demonstrated God’s law in action and became the connecting point between people and God. His reformation work culminated in the cross and resurrection through which he earned the Holy Spirit for his followers. God put new hearts in his people and his law was written on the inside of their lives – no longer just external rules written in books. Instead of animal sacrifices that symbolised judgement and forgiveness, Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross genuinely satisfied God’s justice and purchased forgiveness for his people. A total transformation in how to be God’s people happened. Filled with the Holy Spirit they became a living temple – a body - enlivened and directed by Christ himself.

This is exactly what the prophets said would happen:

Ezekiel 11.16 "Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.'

17 "Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'

18 "They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

When we study the Old Testament we can learn plenty about the church by paying attention to what happened to Israel and how God dealt with her.

There is a wealth of teaching in the Old Testament that is helpful to us who live after Jesus’ reformation of the Old Testament church that was confirmed by his resurrection. He exited the grave and ignited a church filled with his Spirit.

The reforms of Nehemiah back in the Old Testament, teach us plenty about the situation that the church faces in our time. It is in bad shape. It needs to be revived – which simply means it needs the life put back into it!