Transcript [00:01] There is one thing we cannot do without. [00:05] God himself. [00:08] >> When you understand the Torah, it leads [00:10] you [music] to a place of relationship. [00:13] >> And this is exactly what Yeshua is [00:16] saying. The spirit of God will be poured [00:19] out. [00:21] >> Ezra and Nehemiah work together towards [00:24] a vision. [music] [00:26] To prepare for a move of God. [00:31] >> I am Dr. Errol Sauer. I was born and [00:34] raised in the heart of Israel, but I [00:36] never heard the gospel message [music] [00:38] until on a journey abroad, my eyes were [00:41] opened to the [music] Jewish Messiah. [00:44] From that point, my life has been [00:46] dedicated to bringing this gospel back [00:49] [music] to my people Israel, equipping [00:51] them to reach Israel and the world. [00:54] Together as Jews [music] and Gentiles, [00:56] we are one in Messiah, one for Israel. [01:08] >> [music] [01:17] >> You can see behind me the old city of [01:19] Jerusalem. [01:20] This isn't just a historical site or a [01:23] museum. [01:24] Thousands of people have built their [01:26] lives here. Some for generations. [01:30] Holy sites and also homes. [01:33] It's the people that make up the city. [01:35] But 100 years ago, Jerusalem looked much [01:39] different. Jewish people around the [01:41] world only dreamed of setting foot here. [01:44] And it was the vision of a few that made [01:47] this dream a reality today. [01:50] In Nehemiah's time, the walls of [01:52] Jerusalem had been broken down. And many [01:55] were afraid to live within the city. [01:58] But when Nehemiah led the rebuilding of [02:00] the wall, the people were able to dwell [02:02] here again in safety. [02:05] But what was next? Nehemiah didn't just [02:08] think about building up walls. He saw [02:11] God's vision for reviving a city. [02:14] Join us as we ask, "What is your [02:16] vision?" as we walk the walls with [02:19] Nehemiah. [02:22] The walls were completed, but Nehemiah [02:25] didn't start celebrating yet. [02:27] Follow-through was needed. Not just the [02:30] outside, [music] but the inside of the [02:32] city needed to be set in order. [02:35] First, Nehemiah needed to establish [02:37] stable leadership. He writes, [02:40] "Now when the wall had been built, and I [02:42] had set up the doors, [music] and the [02:44] gatekeepers, the singers, and the [02:46] Levites had been appointed, I gave my [02:49] brother Hanani and Hananiah, the [02:50] governor of the castle, charge over [02:52] Jerusalem. For he was a more faithful [02:55] and God-fearing man [02:56] >> [music] [02:57] >> than many." [02:58] Nehemiah had long-term vision. [03:01] He knew that the king of Persia wouldn't [03:03] allow him to stay in Jerusalem forever. [03:05] He wasn't trying to exert himself [03:07] [music] as permanent king. [03:09] He knew that the people needed the right [03:11] leaders with integrity and godliness. [03:14] Otherwise, all his work would be for [03:17] nothing. [03:18] He chose his own brother, as well as a [03:21] man named Hananiah, for the job. [03:23] >> [music] [03:24] >> But these choices were not favoritism or [03:26] nepotism. [03:28] If that was the case, those leaders [03:30] would have quickly crumbled under the [03:32] pressure. [03:34] Leading Jerusalem wasn't a job for the [03:36] weak-hearted. [03:38] Nehemiah chose his brother because he [03:40] had proven his care and faithfulness for [03:43] the city. [03:44] A man named Hananiah was also chosen, [03:47] the commander of the citadel. He had led [03:49] the defense [music] of the city during [03:51] the most vulnerable time while the [03:53] people were building. [03:55] These two men had proven [music] [03:56] themselves for leadership not by [03:58] popularity or a charismatic personality [04:02] but by their actions and by their [04:05] character. [04:07] After he arranged [music] the [04:08] leadership, Nehemiah began to make an [04:11] organized record of Israel's population. [04:14] He was making preparations to ensure [04:17] each [music] family was living in the [04:18] right place either in Jerusalem or in [04:21] one of the villages outside. For [04:24] long-term vision, [music] [04:25] it's important for people to be in the [04:27] right places and sometimes [music] [04:29] people need to shift depending on [04:31] calling, season, and need. [04:34] At One for Israel, we have many [04:37] departments working in different roles. [04:40] Our media department, evangelism [04:42] department discipleship Arabic [04:45] outreach, and humanitarian aid. Our [04:47] ministries to women, [music] young [04:49] adults, soldiers, Russian speakers, and [04:52] the faculty [music] for our Bible [04:54] college. [04:55] Sometimes members of our team move [04:58] around to help one another but we all [05:01] work towards the vision. [05:04] So, leadership matters. Having the right [05:07] people matters. [05:09] But even with dynamic leadership and the [05:11] most talented team, there is one thing [05:14] we cannot do without God [music] [05:17] himself. Without him, it's impossible to [05:20] fulfill a God-ordained vision. [05:23] Think about it. With some effort, [05:26] humanity can come together in unity. We [05:28] can build remarkable things on our own. [05:31] We can do great things and make great [05:33] cities all without the help of God. [05:36] That's the story of the Tower of Babel. [05:39] "Come, let us build ourselves a city [05:43] that we may make a name for ourselves." [05:47] If our goal is human greatness, we can [05:49] achieve that on our own. But if we want [05:52] something eternal, [music] [05:54] we need him. [05:55] Without God, our cities will surely [05:58] crumble. [05:59] Nehemiah's long-term vision wasn't just [06:02] to build a city or walls, but to build a [06:05] people of God. [06:06] To build Jerusalem as a city founded on [06:09] God's word. [06:10] So, after the walls were completed, once [06:13] leadership was established, Nehemiah [06:16] found the man [music] [06:17] who could guide Israel in the ways and [06:19] the word of the Lord. [06:21] His name [music] was Ezra. [06:25] If you want to go deeper [music] [06:27] in Nehemiah's story, we're offering a [06:29] free 31-day devotional as a companion to [06:33] this book. [06:35] Visit the link below to download the [06:37] free devotional. [06:38] And don't forget to get the new book, [06:41] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah. It goes [06:43] deeper into these powerful lessons [06:45] [music] of restoration, prayer, and [06:47] perseverance. Order our new book, [06:50] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah, and [06:52] discover how you can pick up bricks and [06:55] build with God. [06:56] >> For a limited time, get our new book, [06:58] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah, with [07:00] our devotional companion for a [music] [07:02] gift of any amount. Scan the QR code on [07:05] your screen or visit [07:06] oneforisrael.org/walls. [music] [07:08] Your gift will help us bring the gospel [07:10] back to Israel and equip believers in [07:12] Israel to reach the [music] world. Scan [07:14] the QR code now or visit [07:16] oneforisrael.org/walls. [07:18] [music] And for a gift of any amount, [07:19] receive these free resources. [07:22] >> [music] [07:26] >> Nehemiah had built up the city [music] [07:28] physically, but now he would bring out [07:31] someone who could build up [music] the [07:33] people spiritually. [07:35] Ezra. Ezra was a scribe and a priest. He [07:39] had fathered the first generation of [07:41] exiles [07:41] >> [music] [07:41] >> returning to Jerusalem, a key spiritual [07:44] leader at that time. [07:46] He was experienced at copying scriptures [07:48] by hand word for word. [07:51] But he wasn't just a scribe. Ezra had [07:54] set his heart to study and teach the [07:58] word of God. [07:59] So, Ezra and Nehemiah worked together [08:02] towards a vision to prepare for a move [08:05] of God. [08:06] On the biblical day of trumpets, [08:09] Nehemiah gathered the people of [08:10] Jerusalem for an assembly. [08:12] He had already [music] prepared a large [08:14] wooden platform for Ezra to use. And so, [08:17] Ezra went up on the platform in front of [08:21] all the people, opened up a scroll, and [08:24] began to read. He read the five books of [08:27] Moses from morning until noon. Nehemiah [08:30] writes, "Ezra opened the book in the [08:32] sight of all the people. The Levites [08:35] helped the people to understand [music] [08:36] the law while the people remained in [08:38] their places. They read from the book, [08:41] from the law of God, [music] clearly, [08:43] and they gave the sense so that the [08:45] people understood the reading." [08:47] Remember, [08:48] >> [music] [08:48] >> at this time, no one had their own [08:50] copies of the Bible at home. [08:53] And they couldn't just pull up the Bible [08:55] app on their phone and do their daily [08:56] reading. [08:58] Many of the Jews in Jerusalem had grown [09:00] up outside the land speaking Aramaic [09:03] rather than Hebrew. [09:05] So, they didn't even understand the [09:06] language the Torah was written. [09:09] So, when Ezra read from the scriptures, [09:11] Levites were stationed throughout the [09:14] crowd. The Levites gave the translation [09:17] and then practical instructions to the [09:19] people how to live out the word of God [09:22] they were hearing. [09:24] This speaks to the great [music] vision [09:26] that Nehemiah had. He knew that God had [09:29] promised a revival in Jerusalem. So, he [09:31] made preparations [music] to ensure that [09:34] the people would hear and understand [09:36] God's word. [09:37] To make sure that their hearts would be [09:39] tender to a move of his spirit. In [09:42] essence, Nehemiah was doing the work [09:44] [music] of discipleship. [09:47] Just like Nehemiah, we need to prepare [09:49] for God's move. [09:51] As a church, we need [music] to be [09:53] laser-focused on God's vision. [09:56] Yeshua's great commission, [09:58] making disciples. [10:11] >> Discipleship is more than just simply [10:14] hearing instruction. Discipleship is not [10:17] simply about learning rules and [10:20] regulations. In Nehemiah chapter [10:23] 8, the word of God affected their lives. [10:25] [music] [10:26] Uh it says that they helped the people [10:27] to understand. And when you understand [10:31] >> [music] [10:31] >> the word of God, when you understand the [10:33] Torah, it doesn't lead you to become [10:36] religious. It leads you to a place [10:38] [music] of relationship. And they [10:40] started to relate to one another. They [10:42] became a community of people that did [10:45] things together. [10:47] >> [music] [10:47] >> Nehemiah was He was a He was a religious [10:49] leader, but he was also I think his [10:51] heart and his passion was to [music] [10:53] focus on the walls uh for their [10:55] protection, to surround the city. [10:57] Whereas Ezra, as a priest, [music] you [11:00] can see that [11:01] everything he did was specifically tied [11:05] uh to the word of God, to the Torah. For [11:07] years, I lived in Brooklyn, and I had a [11:09] lot of interaction with the ultra [11:11] ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in [11:13] Brooklyn. [11:15] And what was really interesting is that [11:17] every community in Brooklyn, the [11:19] religious communities, [11:20] are defined [music] by their rabbis. So, [11:22] if the rabbis tell you to wear certain [11:24] socks, everybody in that community, [11:27] they wear those socks. And they consult [11:28] the rabbi on on personal matters, on [11:31] social matters, Yeshua calls us to that [11:34] place [music] when he says, "Come to me [11:36] all who are weary and heavy laden and I [11:39] will give you rest." Says, "Take my [11:41] teaching upon you and learn from [music] [11:42] me." His yoke is his Torah. His yoke is [11:45] his teaching. I would argue that [11:47] discipleship is allowing Yeshua to be [11:50] our master teacher. What does Yeshua [11:52] teach me about prayer? What does Yeshua [11:54] teach me about loving my enemy? How to [11:56] handle money? [music] Living in a [11:57] community, reconciliation. Within the [11:59] Jewish community, the religious [12:00] community, you can kind of look at [12:03] certain [music] [12:04] religious people and say, "Okay, I know [12:06] who your rabbi is based on how you act, [12:09] based on how you [music] dress, based on [12:10] the things you do." Discipleship is [12:12] coming to a place that the world will [12:14] look at us and say, "Ah, [12:16] I can tell that you're a follower [12:18] [music] of Yeshua." [12:21] Helping people to make that step from [12:23] hearing the word of God to living the [12:25] word of God is something [music] that [12:27] only God [12:29] can do. We are the messengers, but there [12:31] is something that takes place that, you [12:34] know, King David says in Psalm 119, [12:35] [music] [12:37] "Open my eyes that I might behold [12:40] wondrous things from your law." You [12:43] know, when I look at the story of [12:45] [music] of Ezra and Nehemiah, something [12:47] happened. Ezra was was reading the word [12:50] of God. He was reading [music] the [12:51] Torah. People were understanding the [12:53] Torah. Suddenly their hearts were [12:55] [music] rent. Suddenly [12:57] they started to weep because they [12:59] realized that they had been living [13:00] [music] for so long [13:02] so far away from God. And so, as I see [13:05] [music] our role right now is we're [13:07] preparing, at least at the college, the [13:09] leaders and future leaders [13:12] to be those that are ready on that day [13:16] when when God moves in the hearts of the [13:18] people of Israel to understand and [13:20] [music] and to receive the word of God. [13:22] But it's again, it's crucial that we [13:23] create that moment by an expectation [13:26] >> [music] [13:27] >> that we're not just reading a dead book. [13:29] I would argue that there's a there's [13:30] things that that we commit ourselves to [13:33] to study the word of God, uh to learn [13:35] the word of God, but then there's a [13:37] spiritual component [music] when God [13:39] opens our eyes and he makes that book a [13:41] real book in our lives. [13:43] We're called the people of the book. [13:49] Paul says to us have been committed the [13:51] Oracles of God and yet we spend so much [13:53] time [13:54] not in that book. [music] [13:56] It's the least favorite subject by [13:58] Israelis and in schools. Much of [14:01] religious education is studying the [14:03] words of the rabbis [music] and what the [14:05] rabbis say about what other rabbi said [14:09] about what other rabbi said. But when [14:11] you look at that moment in Nehemiah [14:14] chapter 8 [music] when [14:16] Ezra is reading the Torah [14:19] and the people get it. [14:22] And it goes from [music] weeping to [14:24] rejoicing because they realized that [14:27] that God is real, that the God of [14:28] Abraham and Isaac is the hope of our [14:31] people, that he's the reason for our [14:34] people's [music] existence. He's He's [14:36] the one that's defined us as a people. [14:39] And seeing the [music] repentance and [14:40] then seeing the joy and then seeing the [14:43] festivities, it's incredible to see [14:45] students coming here that, you know, [14:47] some of them just out of the army after [14:49] very difficult experiences and exhausted [14:52] [music] and they come here to study the [14:54] word of God and I would argue that that [14:56] is the greatest joy is [music] to see [14:58] people encounter the word of God as [15:01] something real, [music] as something [15:02] living, and as something that can change [15:04] their lives. And that's something I long [15:06] for [music] to see growing more and more [15:09] in the land of Israel and of course in [15:11] the rest of the world. And so the Bible [15:13] is a book that demands [15:16] our lives. [music] It demands that we [15:18] respond and it demands to literally to [15:21] cut us [music] to the heart and to [15:22] change us from the inside. [15:29] When Ezra read the word of God to the [15:32] people of Jerusalem, [15:33] >> [music] [15:33] >> something supernatural happened. They [15:35] were cut to the heart with conviction. [15:38] Suddenly, they all began [music] to weep [15:41] bitterly. [15:42] They began to awaken, to realize just [15:46] how far [music] they had missed God's [15:48] mark. [15:49] Could this great revival point to a [15:52] greater awakening [music] still to come? [15:54] If you want to go deeper in Nehemiah's [15:56] story, we're offering a free 31-day [16:00] devotional [16:01] >> [music] [16:01] >> as a companion to this book. [16:04] Visit the link below to download the [16:06] free devotional. [16:07] And don't forget to get the new book, [16:10] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah. It goes [16:12] deeper into these powerful lessons of [16:15] restoration [music] [16:16] prayer, and perseverance. Order our new [16:18] book, Walking the Walls with Nehemiah, [16:21] and discover how you can pick up bricks [16:24] and [music] build with God. [16:26] >> For a limited time, get our new book, [16:27] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah, with [16:29] our devotional companion for a gift of [16:32] any amount. Scan the QR code on your [16:34] screen or visit oneforisrael.org/walls. [16:37] Your gift will help us bring the gospel [16:39] [music] back to Israel and equip [16:41] believers in Israel to reach the world. [16:43] Scan the QR code now or visit [16:45] oneforisrael.org/walls. [16:47] And for a gift of any amount, receive [16:49] these free resources. [16:55] >> Nehemiah gathered all of Jerusalem [16:57] together on the day of trumpets. He [16:59] brought out Ezra, the spiritual leader [17:02] of the people. [17:03] Ezra [music] read from the Torah, and [17:05] many heard God's word for the first time [17:08] in their lives. [17:09] As he and the Levites read and taught [17:12] for 6 hours, something extraordinary [17:15] happened [music] in the hearts of the [17:17] people. They began to weep bitterly. The [17:21] cries of mourning rang out over all [17:24] Jerusalem. [17:25] They realized collectively just how far [17:28] they had drifted from the ways [music] [17:29] of God, from the purpose in him. [17:32] Observing this scene of mourning and [17:34] repentance, Nehemiah cried out, [17:38] "This day is holy to the Lord your God. [17:40] Do not mourn or weep. Go your way. Eat [17:44] the fat and drink sweet [music] wine, [17:45] and send portions to anyone who has [17:47] nothing ready, for this day is holy to [17:50] our God. And do not be grieved, for the [17:53] joy of the Lord is your strength." [17:56] Nehemiah stopped the weeping. [17:59] It wasn't the day to [music] mourn, but [18:01] to rejoice in what God was doing. [18:04] It reminds [music] me of the parable of [18:05] the prodigal son. [18:07] When the son returned home, he was ready [18:09] to weep [music] and beg his father for a [18:12] place among his servants. [18:14] Instead, his father ran to embrace him [18:17] and threw a celebration. Our Father [18:19] rejoices in having his sons [music] back [18:22] home. He rejoices in restored [18:24] relationship, and his joy becomes our [18:28] strength. [18:30] Ezra read the Torah on the Day of [18:32] Trumpets and went on to celebrate [18:35] [music] the joyful Feast of Tabernacles. [18:38] These biblical days have eternal [18:40] significance. [18:42] God uses this biblical [music] calendar [18:44] to reveal Yeshua, as well as prophecy of [18:48] the future redemption. [18:50] Get our study [music] guide, Yeshua in [18:53] the biblical feasts, and learn more of [18:56] what God says through his appointed [18:58] times. [19:00] We're here with Dr. Golan Broshi, who [19:02] can give us a profound look at the [19:05] biblical days called the Feast [music] [19:07] of Tabernacles. The meaning, the joy, [19:10] and the prophetic picture of God's [19:12] ultimate plan. [19:14] >> Shalom Golan and thank you so much for [19:15] taking the time. Can you talk a little [19:17] bit about the joy of Sukkot, Feast of [19:20] Tabernacles? There is a theme [19:22] that uh the theme of water. Here in [19:24] Israel, we pray for rain. [19:26] You know, and and but but the water is [19:28] something that Talk about that a little [19:30] bit. [19:30] >> Traditionally, in Sukkot, there's the [19:33] first rain. I think Hayo Lay, you know, [19:35] the first rain comes during Sukkot and [19:38] there's of course there's actually [19:39] special prayers in the Rabbinic Siddur [19:42] for the rain and it's during Sukkot that [19:45] you start praying for the rain. But, [19:47] there's a tradition that was developed [19:49] during the Second Temple period, which [19:51] is called Nisuch Hamayim. I don't know [19:53] how you can [19:54] >> the pouring of the water. [19:55] >> Now, it's a tradition. It's not a [19:57] holiday from the Torah, but it's a [19:58] tradition that was done each day [20:01] of Sukkot where the the priest would [20:05] were pouring the water with the wine on [20:07] the altar. [20:09] And that would uh according to the [20:11] tradition, that Shikfa or [20:13] >> reflected [20:13] >> reflected the the the the pouring of the [20:16] Holy Spirit. [20:17] >> Isn't that interesting? [20:18] >> So, I I will ask you to read from John [20:20] 7:37-39. [20:22] Uh verses that actually Yeshua is [20:24] taking, you can say, building on that [20:27] tradition and taking it to the next [20:29] level. [20:30] >> So, on the last day of the feast, the [20:32] great day, [20:33] the eighth day, Jesus stood up and cried [20:36] out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to [20:39] me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as [20:43] the scripture has said, out of his heart [20:46] will flow rivers of living water." [20:49] So, how can [20:50] rivers of living water flow from the [20:52] heart? [20:53] >> Exactly. And according to tradition, [20:55] this pouring of water reflects or [20:57] resembles the the pouring of the spirit. [21:00] And this is exactly what Yeshua is [21:02] saying. The spirit of God will be poured [21:05] out. [21:06] >> So, how does the Feast of Tabernacle [21:09] points both to Yeshua's first coming as [21:13] well as second coming? [21:15] >> There's an ancient rabbinic traditions [21:17] called Otzar Midrashim, the treasure of [21:19] all the Midrashim, which says that [21:21] Yeshua was born [21:24] on the Feast of Sukkot. [21:26] >> A rabbinic Midrash, not I'm not talking [21:27] about a Messianic writing, a rabbinic [21:30] Midrash. [21:30] >> There the rabbis are talking to Peter [21:34] and they're telling him, Peter, go and [21:35] go and make the Gentiles our friend and [21:37] teach them teach them about Yeshua and [21:39] and teach them what what what we know, [21:41] that Yeshua was you know was lifted up [21:44] and was resurrected and of course he was [21:46] born in Sukkot. [21:47] >> And this is in the Midrash. [21:48] >> John in chapter 1 he's doing something [21:51] incredible. He says, "And the word [21:53] became flesh and dwelt and the word [21:56] dwelt in Greek is is the same word for [22:00] tabernacle. It's so Yeshua is like a [22:02] walking sukkah. When we celebrate it, we [22:06] are reminded we're waiting for a better [22:08] Jerusalem to come from heaven. [22:09] >> And that's beautiful. [22:10] >> Yes, and of course the the second [22:13] coming, some believers are [22:15] they think that perhaps Yeshua will [22:18] return [22:19] between Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of [22:21] Trumpets, and Yom Kippur. Exactly 4 days [22:24] after Yom Kippur when [22:26] all Israel is already saved with in the [22:28] 1,000 years can celebrate with the [22:30] Gentiles the Feast of Tabernacles. By [22:32] the way, in Amos I think Amos 9 God is [22:35] promising [22:36] to Hakimu Sukkot. [22:37] >> Rebuild, yeah, rebuild the fallen [22:39] tabernacle of David. [22:40] >> Of David and and and Yeshua of course is [22:43] the son of David and when he will come [22:46] when he will return the fallen [22:48] tabernacle of David will rise again. [22:50] >> That's beautiful how everything is [22:52] connected. [22:53] >> Amen. [22:54] >> So, Zechariah chapter 14 tells us that [22:57] people from all the nations will come to [23:00] Jerusalem and they will come to [23:02] Jerusalem on the Feast of Tabernacles to [23:04] worship the King of Kings, the Messiah [23:06] himself. [23:07] So, my question is, for Christians [23:09] today, [23:11] can they celebrate Sukkot? Can they [23:13] celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles? What [23:14] do you think? [23:15] >> Of course, Christians are not obligated [23:18] to celebrate Tabernacles. They don't [23:20] have to do it. [23:21] >> a condition for salvation, anyway. [23:22] >> Exactly. But, imagine when they do it, [23:26] how Jewish people are seeing it. First [23:28] of all, Tabernacle reminds us, again, as [23:30] we said, that we're not yet in the [23:32] promised land. We live in a in a [23:33] Tabernacle, and we're waiting for a for [23:36] the final destination. But, second, the [23:38] second reason why Christians can [23:40] celebrate it is because they can make [23:42] Jewish people jealous for the Messiah. [23:45] Cuz, can you imagine a Jewish person [23:47] would see a a Christian celebrating, [23:49] "Well, why are you celebrating it?" [23:51] "Because I love you. Because I love your [23:53] Messiah. Bec- And because of your [23:54] Messiah, I love you. And I want to [23:57] identify with you through this holiday." [24:00] >> That's wonderful. [24:02] Dr. Golan Bashi, thank you so much for [24:04] being with me today. It's been a [24:05] pleasure. [24:07] And for you, our viewers, I want to [24:08] encourage you to take advantage of the [24:11] free resource you have on the screen. It [24:14] will help you to go deeper in your [24:16] faith, understanding the biblical [24:18] holidays. And we are praying for you to [24:20] experience God's joy and celebration and [24:24] victory in your life. [24:29] Ezra read the Torah to [music] the [24:30] people of Jerusalem. [24:32] In his one voice, they began to weep for [24:35] their sin. [24:36] But, suddenly, Nehemiah put an [music] [24:38] end to the mourning. [24:40] Instead, he commanded the people to [24:42] celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, the [24:44] most [music] joyful festival of the [24:46] year. [24:47] So, weeping turned to rejoicing. [24:50] The people rejoiced, not only because [24:53] Jerusalem had been rebuilt, but because [24:55] they were being revived, fulfilling [24:58] [music] God's vision for His people. [25:02] When celebrating the Feast of [25:03] Tabernacles, the Torah commanded us to [25:06] gather branches from four different [25:08] trees. Yet, Nehemiah commanded Israel to [25:11] gather from slightly different trees, [25:14] including olive and wild olive branches. [25:18] There is an important and prophetic [25:20] difference here. Paul would later write [25:22] [music] the Gentiles, like wild olive [25:25] shoots, are grafted into the cultivated [25:28] tree of Israel. In Nehemiah's day, both [25:31] natural and wild branches were gathered [25:34] to celebrate God's salvation. [25:36] Scripture says [25:37] >> [music] [25:38] >> that when Yeshua returns, Israel will [25:40] repent once again. At that time, all [25:43] nations will join in the Feast of [25:46] Tabernacles. One people, one [25:48] celebration, one tree. [25:51] This event of repentance, joy, and [25:53] celebration is the climax of hope in the [25:56] book of Nehemiah. [25:58] The completed wall led to one of the [26:00] greatest days our people had [26:01] experienced. [26:03] But as we read on, hope eventually [26:05] became [music] mixed with controversy. [26:08] This celebration was not yet the [26:10] Messianic hope we were waiting for. This [26:13] revival [music] of the nation in the [26:15] heart of Jerusalem was still just a [26:17] shadow of a greater redemption [music] [26:20] to come. A redemption, we believe, is [26:23] right around the corner. [26:26] Nehemiah's [music] vision was to rebuild [26:28] the walls of Jerusalem, creating the [26:30] infrastructure for Israel to return and [26:33] worship. [26:35] Our vision at One for Israel is [music] [26:37] to bring the gospel back to Israel, [26:40] equipping believers to reach the world [26:42] from Israel. [26:44] In many ways, our vision is just [music] [26:46] like Nehemiah's. To prepare the body of [26:49] Messiah in Israel for His return. [26:52] As the [music] people of Jerusalem began [26:54] to experience spiritual awakening, they [26:57] started to relearn the character of God. [27:00] Next time, we'll see what it looks like [27:03] when a nation encounters [music] the [27:05] grace and goodness of God in a powerful [27:08] way. [27:09] What is the proper response to grace? [27:12] Find out as we continue [music] [27:14] to walk the walls with Nehemiah.
