Nehemiah
chapter 8 describes a situation that has happened countless times in
countless locations around the world. It has been repeated in
churches, in synagogues, in stadiums and humble living rooms. When
the Word of God is read with understanding the hearers are
transformed by it. I am just one example. I sat in my chair as a
young pastor, sitting alone on a wooden stool read from his Bible.
The words pierced though my proud exterior and melted my hardened
heart. I realized as he read, that God’s Word was written to me
personally and I could no longer ignore the truth. The chapter
begins, “all
the people assembled as one… told Ezra the scribe to bring out the
Book of the Law of Moses… 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“.
So who are those that are able to understand? Is there a spiritual
qualification required? I say all who are able to understand means
just that. I do not speak Greek, or Aramaic, or Hebrew, but the
Bible has been translated into my language. I believe the only
requirement to hear God’s Word is willingness. And I believe the
Holy Spirit of God opens our understanding. I had attempted to read
the Bible on my own before, but I had little understanding. Jesus
said, “For
where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst
of them”
(Matthew 18:20).
When
The Word is read, in the presence of His Spirit, lives are changed.
“He
read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square… in
the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And
all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law“.
It says, Ezra “stood
on a high wooden platform built for the occasion”
and “All
the people could see him“.
As we read how the people responded, I don’t believe any of it was
scripted, or ritualistic. There was nothing casual about the reading
of the Holy Word of God. Their reaction was in genuine reverence.
“Ezra
opened the book… and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
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“.
These people did not have handy study guides and pads for taking
notes, Ezra was probably reading from his own hand copied text (he
was called a scribe). “The
Levites… instructed the people in the Law while the people were
standing there. 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“.
I believe the Bible is clear that God has called and prepared some
men to teach. Ephesians 4:11 says God has gifted “some
pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ“.
Many churches today are little more than social gathering places.
Are you being taught from God’s Word?
Notice
the reaction of the people to hearing the Word of God. “Nehemiah
said, ‘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“.
Don’t miss the point. They were not whipped into an emotional
frenzy by great oration; they heard God’s Word and the Word itself
spoke to their spirit. When we recognize our own sin separates us
from the Holy perfection of God we are filled with grief. But Praise
God, His faithfulness is taught in every chapter. Nehemiah assured
the people, “Do
not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength“.
As we discover they were reading in the book of Leviticus, recapping
all of the Jewish Feast days. All of the feasts were filled with
symbolism to prepare the Jewish people for the Messiah. God promised
Abraham the Messiah would be his offspring, “And
in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”
(Genesis 12:3). And the good news for you and me is that like
Abraham, all we have to do is believe the promise. “And
he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness”
(Gen 15:6). Here is a promise from God’s Word for you today. “For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it
is
the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”
(Ephesians 2:8). “Faith
comes
by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
Romans (10:17).