The Joy in the Word- Nehemiah 8

1all 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.

2So 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. 3He 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...

 8They 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.

9Then 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.

10Nehemiah 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.” (Nehemiah 8)

Thoughts: The context of these verses is important.  The people had come back from exile after 70 years.  The hopes were restored, and the scriptures were pulled out.  Some wept at the emotions of coming back to the land God had promised and hearing the scriptures read once again.  For about six hours the people all stood, and they listened "attentively" (vs. 7).  They knew God was not a secondary piece of their lives- for He had restored them and given them a fresh start- a second chance to be His people.  The Bible (Book of the Law- maybe Deuteronomy) was being read and Ezra and the Levites were "making it clear" that is preaching on it.  So there is the Word of God read and the Word of God preached.  The best preaching is defined here in vs. 8: "making the word clear."
        Nehemiah reminded them this is a time to celebrate- so the party began with good food and drink, and sharing.  The reading of the Bible may convict us of our sin,and may strike a nerve to our core, but it is also our strength and our joy.  

Prayer: Lord, may your joy strengthen me and sustain me.  May I find joy in your word, and excitement from knowing you speak to me and help me through the tough time.  

9/23/13 Revival Nehemiah 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. (Nehemiah 8:1-3)

Thoughts: This is the beginning of a revival in the land after the exile.  It happened after the people opened themselves to working together for God, agreed to sacrifice for each other- with a unity ("coming together as one"), and then listened to the Bible with an eager heart.  He read the scriptures for five to six hours, with no air conditioning, little shade, and no speaker system.  Yet the people listened "attentively" to the Book of the Law.  They really believed and sought God and His blessing.  

     So oneness and attentiveness to God and His Word are the first steps in revival.  If we want to get close to God- we need to love God and each other. 

Prayer: Lord, do it again.  We have heard of how you have moved in the midst of your people, so do it again in our time. 

8/5/12- Joy and Strength in Worship

¹ all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe 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 scribe 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 theLord with their faces to the ground.

⁷ The Levites —Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructedthe people in the Law while the people were standing there. ⁸ 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.

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “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.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred 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 sacred 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. (Nehemiah 8:1-12)

Thoughts: The last part of verse 10 is an important and oft-quoted verse: "The Joy of the Lord is your strength."  But it is important to set the context to see where this joy of the Lord was found.  The people were a remnant, fewer, less secure,  but returned to their own land.  They gathered together and Ezra and the Levites read the Bible to them and preached from it as they read- so that people could understand it.
    So this joy came in worship with the gathered people of God.  It came as they read the Bible and heard it preached.  The joy of the Lord came despite their lack of numbers, a smaller place to worship, and ruins all around them.
    It is important in a time in which the Church has been or is being pruned that we find joy, strength in the Lord through worship and scripture. 

Prayer:  Help me find my joy. Help me to find my strength in you.