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. (Nehemiah 8:4-6)
Thoughts: Ezra had perhaps the first pulpit- high and lifted up so people could see and hear the messenger of the message from God. When Ezra opened the scriptures- all stood out of respect. Except for prayer exercises- laying prostrate- the people stood all morning. When Ezra praised God, the people raised their hands toward heavens, and added their "Amen." Amen means "May it be so" or "so be it." It was participatory worship, yet it was focused on the Word of the Lord- not on their posture.
Prayer: Lord, give me a heart to worship you and listen to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment