READ: Nehemiah 7:5 – 8:18
Chapter 7 continues with Nehemiah finding a list of
all the returned exiles from Zerubbabel’s time, almost identical to the list in
Ezra chapter 2. Genealogies were important so that one could prove he was
actually a descendant of Abraham and part of God’s people.
In chapter 8, we meet Ezra, who had come from
Persia to Jerusalem a number of years earlier. Two great leaders – Ezra and
Nehemiah – lead the people in covenant renewal. The scene described in this
chapter is really incredible – a reverent time as the people respond to the Law
of Moses. The phrase “as one man” in verse 1 depicts the unity of the people as
they come together in the safety of the restored City of David. The scene is
movie-like: The people gathered together – man, woman and child – sitting and
waiting in anticipation; Ezra appears and steps up onto a wooden platform above
the crowd; he opens the book of the Law, and as he does so, the people rise;
Ezra blesses the Lord and the people respond in heartfelt worship; Ezra begins
to read and continues from morning to midday while the people listen with
attentive ears, hungry for the word of the Lord; all the while, a group of knowledgeable
men move throughout the crowd helping the people to understand what they are
hearing – this part was extremely important: worship was central to the
covenant relationship between the people and Yahweh, and worship came primarily
through obedience to God’s law. A
biblical principle is highlighted here – as followers of the Lord, being a
hearer of the Word is not enough, we must be doers of the Word.
Upon hearing the law, many of the people begin to
weep. Obviously, as they understood the law, their eyes were opened to their
own shortcomings. Yet Nehemiah and Ezra urge them to rejoice on this day; their
sorrow over sin was right, but the purpose of this day was renewed covenant –
getting back up again! – and it was to be a time of rejoicing. This shows us
something about God – He takes joy in our returning to Him; He rejoices when we
want to follow Him, even though we are weak and imperfect. He is a merciful and
happy God!
The assembly reads Yahweh’s commandment to
celebrate the feast of booths (see Lev 23:33-44). This was a festival to
commemorate how the Israelites lived in temporary dwellings in the wilderness
while they waited entrance into the Promised Land. The people celebrate it
joyfully, as it had not been celebrated since the time of Joshua!
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. Solomon wrote that there is a time for
everything. There is a time for grieving over our sinfulness, but there is also
a time to humbly return to the Lord with joy, knowing that He is faithful and
forgiving. Committing ourselves to God should not be a chore! It should be a
time of gladness for us, because He is surely glad when we do so.
a. Check your heart: what is your attitude towards
obedience? Is it one of happy holiness or crabby compliance?
b. Ask God to show you His heart towards your
obedience. Ask Him for the joy to obey Him. Read Hebrews 12:1-3. Jesus had
joyful obedience. Ask God to give you the endurance to walk in Christ’s
footsteps.
2. Take a few moments to imagine the scene
described in Nehemiah 8:1-8. What would it be like to be part of the assembly?
Why do you think the people were hungry to hear the Law? With the Bible at our
fingertips, we sometimes lose a taste for it, but it is vital for our survival!
It often happens that when we stop acting
on what we read – stop being doers of
the Word – our Bible reading and relationship with the Lord seem stale. Are you
a doer of the Word? Do you listen to the Holy Spirit throughout the day? Do you
submit your will to His? Do you leave your devotional times with an active
mission for your day? Ask God to reveal how He wants you to act on what you’ve read today.
3. Take some time to renew your commitments to the
Lord. Identify some of the commitments you have made (ex. to follow Him all the
days of your life; to remain faithful to your spouse; to serve in a particular
area; etc.) and tell Him that you are devoted to obeying Him in this thing. Take
notice if there are commitments you are struggling to walk out and ask Him why
you feel such a burden. Pray for the strength to give yourself fully to God in
each of these areas.
