Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

27 September 2024

Reading From Nehemiah 8-10

“And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 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. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 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.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.”

 –Nehemiah 8:1-9

     God works marvelous wonders through His Word.  This scene reminds me of when King Josiah found the scroll of the Law which had been uncovered as the temple was remodeled.  The words of Scripture have a way of cutting through all of the garbage and distractions that clutter up our lives, kind of like good dishwashing soap cuts through grease on a pan.  It goes right to the heart of the matter with life-giving power and authority.

     This passage opens with a fascinating phrase, “all the people gathered as one man.”  What a beautiful picture of the people of God coming together as individuals to form one body.  In the New Covenant, those who are born again are the sons and daughters of the Most High God and we come together to form the Body of Christ, the Church. 

     In the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, they gathered in the square.  But today, through the unity of the Holy Spirit dwelling in each of our hearts, we are able to be connected spiritually through time and space.  Even those who have gone before us into Heaven are here with us because the Kingdom of God is not of this world.  While we are caught up in the limitations of our present reality, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have transitioned into the spiritual realm and know such limitations no longer.  The Body of Christ transcends earthly buildings and geopolitical boundaries and spans the breadth of world history.

     As Ezra and the elders read and explained the meaning of the words, the people listened attentively, lifted their hands and bowed their heads in worship, and were moved to tears by what they heard.  This service lasted all morning and into the afternoon.  The people of God were hungry and thirsty for righteousness.  I love the example of Ezra and the elders making sense and clearly explaining the Word of the Lord.  Ministers in our modern age need to follow their example of taking ancient Scripture and making it understandable in our contemporary context.

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of Your truth.  I pray that You would reveal to each of Your sons and daughters how to minister Your Word with power, conviction, and love.  May we be faithful to diligently study and rightly divide Your truth.  In Your Name I pray, Amen.”

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

–Hebrews 4:12