Nehemiah 8:1-18
8:1-2 We take a step back into Ezra's account: With the people gathered together as one in the open square, Ezra read the word of God at the water-gate. It is pertinent that Ezra would read the law at the water gate; our God, the author and inspiration of scripture, is the Living Water, John 7:37-39.
8:3 From morning until midday, Ezra read to the people with understanding, to the people who were attentive to the word of God. It is stated throughout scripture that only those who seek wholeheartedly will find, and only those who listen attentively will understand, Jeremiah 29:13. Jesus spoke of spiritual sight and spiritual hearing, Matthew 13:15-16.
"For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear."
There is power in the word of God for those who take spiritual hold of it. Ezra read from the book to the people who were listening to hear and learn and grow. He read to the people who cherished the insight and instruction their generous God had written down for them.
8:4 Ezra stood on a wooden platform, made for the purpose of reading aloud the word of God. On his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. On his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malachijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah and Meshullam.
8:5 As Ezra opened the book, the crowd stood. They stood out of gratitude and respect for its contents and reverence for their God. They understood that the word of God is a map, a blueprint and love letter from God. The words within scripture have been infused by God with the power to lead us in purpose and fulfillment, build us in strength and character, and draw us into God's presence and love.
It is a book worth standing for, we have a God worth kneeling for.
8:6 Before anything else, Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. It was a beautiful moment, all of the people gathered together for the purpose of worshiping and listening to their God. Ezra took time to acknowledge the God who had made and organized all of the pieces that added up to the blessed moment.
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.
8:7-8 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Masseiah, Kelita, Azaraiah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites stood among the people, helping them to understand the word of God. To devoted students, God provides teachers (often the ability to teach themselves) to assist them in interpreting the depth of meaning within scripture and how to apply it to their lives.
8:9 The people wept over the word. Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites encouraged the people to be joyful; it was a holy day, a day of restoration. But the people likely wept over the beauty of God's powerful love and also over the spiritual disintegration of their ancestors. They were so spiritually impacted by scripture that it affected them physically.
8:10 The people were sent home to celebrate and to share with others, especially those in need. The wall was completed, they journey had been and would be long, there were still parts and homes of the city that needed rebuilding, but that day was special. The completion of the wall was symbolic of the great work God would continue to do to restore them if they kept a relationship with Him.
In weak moments and seasons of life, remember what is written here in Nehemiah: the joy of the Lord is our strength. God sustains us.
8:11-12 Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved. It is therapeutic for us to understand that a day with God is a holy day. A holy day with God disintegrates our grief and reforms our joy, His strength within us.
8:13-18 From reading scripture for the first time in so long, the people learned of the celebrations written by Moses. The people went out to make preparations, according to the word, to reinstate the spiritual tradition of their ancestors. Ezra continued to read from the book and the people were filled with great gladness.
Indeed the word of God fills our spirit, day and life with great gladness.
