STRAIGHT TO THE HEART

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Opening Prayer

Gracious Lord, I need Your gift of clarity to sort out truth from falsehood, fact from fluff, the sincere from spin.

Read NEHEMIAH 7:73—8:12

^[73] The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the musicians 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 came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law 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 teacher of the Law 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 understood what was being read. ^[9] Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy 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 holy 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 holy 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.

Meditate

“In the study of the teachings of God’s Word, it should not surprise us if we often find our hearts spontaneously breaking forth in expressions of praise and delight” (Wayne Grudem).

Think Further

Dressing on a sore, paint on a rusty fence, jokes in an awkward situation, food in a beggar’s hand: they relieve an immediate need but do not deal with the source of the problem. Bricks positioned around a city offer protection and teamwork builds community, but the greater divine project is incomplete unless God’s people return to their founding principles. Recognizing this, they ask Ezra, teacher and priest, to read them God’s Law.

Imagine a large public gathering with women and young people as well as men standing shoulder to shoulder, then kneeling and prostrating as one in worship. On their feet for six hours out of reverence for God’s Word, they listen intently as the ancient Law speaks to their present community, possibly following translation from Hebrew into everyday Aramaic. They respond with tearful grief, acknowledging how far they have strayed from God’s perfect design. Vivid images of demolished walls, a desecrated city and scattered people depict a smashed covenant amid many broken promises to their God. How beautiful that at the moment of heartfelt repentance, forgiveness is theirs! Soul-searching must not be an indulgence. Joy and feasting, sharing their bounty with the poor, reflect God’s smile on a people who are putting his will at the center of their community.

In our efforts to mop up all kinds of messes—physical and social, moral and emotional—it is always wise to give attention to deeper spiritual causes as well. Those who painstakingly translate and interpret God’s Word are invaluable. Those who faithfully speak God’s challenge and pardon as friends and mentors, preachers and pastors, artists and songwriters do us a great service. They remind us who we are in Christ and how he wants us to celebrate his life together.

Apply

What helps you most in hearing God speak to You, and why? Preachers/teachers (7,8)? Personal study? Small group?

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, I thank You for all the ways You speak to me. Alert me to opportunities to share with others the joy I receive.

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