Nehemiah 8
This chapter records how Ezra read the word of God to all the Jews met together in Jerusalem. With the help of various teachers he explained God's law as given to Moses from first light to midday. Much care was taken to help the people understand the meaning.
The effect on the people was sorrow, but Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites encouraged them that this was a time of year when the LORD had instructed them to celebrate. They were to eat, drink, rejoice and send portions to those who weren't prepared.
The next day they read that at this particular time of feasting and thanksgiving the LORD had commanded them to make 'booths' - tents made with the branches of trees - in remembrance of the booths which the children of Israel made when the LORD miraculously brought about their escape from Egypt.
The people obeyed and gladly sat in their booths - there hadn't been such celebration since the days of Joshua. Meanwhile, every day Ezra continued to read the law to them until the 8th day when they solemnly assembled themselves together for confession and praise to God.
On re-reading this chapter I found myself pausing and thinking over verse 1:
"And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel".
It sounds to me as if the people were asking for Ezra to read the law to them, rather than Ezra calling them together. In verse 4 we also read that Ezra 'stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose'. It seems that they had prepared this pulpit so that when Ezra read to them they could all see and hear him (verse 5). They wanted to hear God's law read.
We then read of the effect of this reading - firstly they wept (verse 9), but then on being instructed that this was a holy day, a time for rejoicing and feasting because 'the joy of the LORD' was their strength (verse 10), they made great mirth (rejoicing) 'because they had understood the words that were declared unto them' (verse 12).
Is the Bible like a closed book to you dear reader? Do you come before the Lord as a matter of conscience to read his word, but it just seems like a collection of historical stories, or poems and prophecies that don't make much sense?
Ask the Lord to give you, like these Jews, a desire to hear and understand his word. Take advantage of the means that are provided to hear God's word explained - attending services, Bible Studies, reading books. Do you remember how the Lord sent the Apostle Philip to one man in a desert who didn't understand what he read, but had a desire to know?
Philip heard this man, an Ethiopian, reading from the book Isaiah. Philip asked him if he understood it. The Ethiopian's answer, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" (Acts 8: 31) He asked Philip to come up into his chariot and explain it to him, and then like these Jews, when he understood and believed, 'he went on his way rejoicing' (verse 39).
We have a tendency to get bogged down with our daily lives and problems, but today, dear reader, if you have heard the Lord's voice and understood his words and love to you, rejoice! Lift up your heart in thankfulness and praise to him! He is still the same Jesus today as he was when he first opened your eyes to understand, and he never changes - rejoice, rejoice that although you are so lukewarm at times in your thoughts and affections towards him, that his love never changes to you.
But, if you sadly think that you cannot say that you know the Lord, or his love, ask him to reveal himself to you as you read his word, ask him to make his word a living book to you, and ask him to send people into your life, ministers into your pulpits, who will explain the mysteries of God's words to you.
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