July 16th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Hear the Word of God

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Opening Prayer

Lord God, give me a real hunger for Your Word so that I may discover the joy of understanding its meaning.

Read Nehemiah 7:73-8:12

[73] The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers and the temple servants, along with certain of the people and the rest of the Israelites, settled in their own towns. When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, [1] all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. [2] So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. [3] He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. [4] Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. [5] Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. [6] Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. [7] The Levites-Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah-instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. [8] They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. [9] Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. [10] Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” [11] The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.” [12] Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NRSV).

Think Further

These notes are being written in Glasgow, Scotland. The original motto of this city was in the form of a prayer: “Let Glasgow prosper by the preaching of God’s Word and the praising of his name.” Alas, that vision has long been forgotten, leaving the city bereft of purpose or meaning beyond material gain or empty pleasures. This beautiful passage reminds us of a phase in the life of biblical Israel when the entire nation appeared to understand and to desire to practice the word of the Lord.

It is a narrative full of conflicting emotions: there is awestruck worship (6b), broken-hearted repentance (9b), and an ecstatic joy (12). The scene is painted in such vivid colors that it is not difficult to imagine this wonderful occasion, when the clear, loud, public reading and explanation of divine revelation had a transforming impact. Notice two factors that were vital in this event. First, the people—all of them—wanted to be guided and instructed by the word of God (1). They recognized their ignorance and were eager to hear the revelation entrusted to Moses in a fresh and dynamic way.

Second, the message of God was declared in a manner that brought it alive—Ezra could be clearly seen (5) and heard (3), and the text was carefully explained and applied. By the end it is clear that the celebration which concludes the story resulted from the fact that everyone, young and old, “now understood the words that had been made known to them” (12). There are, surely, profound challenges for today in this text, both for hearers and teachers of the Bible.

Apply

Re-read the final sentence above and ask yourself precisely what these challenges might be for you and your church. How can you, personally, and your church, corporately, begin to meet them?

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, help me stand, not just on Your Word, but also under Your Word. I know how much I need its authority and teaching in my life.

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