Bible Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12 1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them. |
Isn't the picture in the first verse thrilling? All the people packed around the water-gate standing ready to hear the Word of God. They came together for a purpose. What did they ask Ezra to do? Ezra was to bring the Word of God and read it aloud to them. Verse 4 has the only reference to a pulpit in the Bible. Ezra stood on it and praised the Lord, the great God (v. 6). The people all agreed, saying, 'Amen, Amen', and they worshipped God together. Then there was a need to translate and to explain the meaning of the words. These people had lived in Babylon and understood Aramaic, while the law had been written in Hebrew. What a wonderful experience it must have been. The people were very happy. But at the same time, as the law of God was explained to them, they burst into tears. They realised their sin as the Word spoke to their hearts. They could only weep in repentance. There was great conviction, but Nehemiah said (v. 9), 'Listen to me, if God has spoken to you about your sin and you have repented, then he has forgiven you. Therefore you ought to be happy and joyful' Do you know that feeling? One thing more. They were to share it with someone else. See verse 10. That is what we need to do also. Don't keep your blessings to yourself. They are to be shared with others. In the verses that follow they did what they hadn't done for years-they kept one of the feasts which God had instructed them to keep many years before (Leviticus 23:34). The picture is wonderful. The truths and principles are even more so. Look again at these verses and see what God has to say to you today about the reading of his Word and your obedience to it. A VERSE FOR TODAY: 'The joy of the Lord is your strength' (v. 10). |
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