Nehemiah

This devotional is written by Kirstine Robb. Kirstine is Ordinand (trainee vicar) and naughtiest staff member.

Nehemiah 8

8 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[a] 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.

13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month 15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters"—as it is written.[b]

16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.

18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.



Reflection

I love how this passage bucks the normal social trends of the time.

Biblical readings would have normally taken place in the temple to men only, but on this day Ezra is asked to unroll the scrolls in this public spot enabling men, women, children, the young, the old, and everyone in between to hear the word of God.

And no worries if they didn't understand what was being said, people interpreted for them, some moved around the crowd to help with any questions – it feels like the whole city is involved in this moment – how beautiful.

The effect of the city working together, meant that as people heard and understood, the people were so overwhelmed that they began to worship (verse 6).

Today, we still believe that God answers prays and that when we are suffering it is right to call upon him on our own and with others, asking him to change our circumstances, to bring hope and joy to each of us.

Whatever is happening in our own lives, whatever situations you are facing, God does not change and neither do his promises. He is the same yesterday, today and forever; this means he is always part of the solution to our problem, not part of the problem itself.
God bucks the social trends of society. When we are suffering, he doesn't walk away only to return when it is over. No, he comes right into the midst of our situations and suffering, and we can exchange our inner tensions for relief and joy, knowing that he is our strength (verse 10)

Pray

Whatever situation you are facing today, the areas of life that feel tough, hopeless, filled with anxiety – ask God to bring his comfort to you, welcome him into the midst of the situation and ask him to give you his Joy as your strength for today.

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