READING: Nehemiah 7-8
I hope you’ve grown to love the Word of God more as you’ve been reading with us this year. Even if you have, though, I wonder if you or I would respond to the Word like the people of God did when Ezra read it to them in Nehemiah 8. Walk with me through this chapter:
- "And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” (Neh 8:3)
- "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, 'Amen, Amen,' lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” (Neh 8:5-8)
- “For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.” (Neh 8:9)
- “And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (Neh 8:12)
- “On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.” (Neh 8:13)
- “And day by day [during the Festival of Tabernacles], from the first day to the last day, he [Ezra] read from the Book of the Law of God.” (Neh 8:18)
Ezra stood to speak the Word. Levites helped the people understand the Word. When they did, the Word melted them in tears, followed by great joy. Then, they sought to know more of the Word, followed by obedience to observe the Festival of Tabernacles.
That’s just what the Word does: it draws, convicts, and melts people even as it transforms their weeping into joy and obedience. It makes its readers want more of it. No other book can do that.
That’s because the Bible isn’t just another book. It’s the Word of God.
ACTION STEPS:
- If you’ve struggled staying faithful in your reading this year, reaffirm your commitment to the Word.
- Let the Word of God do its work in your life today.
PRAYER: “Lord, help me to understand what the Bible says today — and then help me to obey it.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Nehemiah 9
