The Word of God Should Be Central
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, 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.
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. 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.
Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.
. . . 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. 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.
The Levites -- Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah . . . instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 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.
Nehemiah 8:1-8
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. 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.
Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.
. . . 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. 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.
The Levites -- Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah . . . instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 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.
Nehemiah 8:1-8
For years, the children of Israel had rejected the word of God in contravention of their covenant obligation to the God who redeemed them out of slavery in Egypt. They turned to all kinds of detestable idol worship. They even sacrificed their children in the fire to those gods. Some of their kings also set up images of foreign gods in the magnificent temple built for God by Solomon. As a result, God allowed their enemies to decimate them and carry them off as captives into exile. There was divine retribution.
Graciously, however, God allowed them to regain favor and return to the land of Judah. Nehemiah, together with some priests and outstanding teachers such as Ezra, was among those touched by God to help the returnees rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and the temple; along with ensuring that the people were properly resettled in the land of Judah.
But how was life going to be from that point on? What was going to be the foundation or point of reference for the "new nation"? That is the significance of the above scene. The leaders realized that the people had to be instructed in the Law of God. They had to be made aware that the Word of the Living God had to be given a foundational and central place in their lives if they were to prosper. So Ezra read the "Bible" to them from morning till noon and the other priests took time to explain the meaning of God's word to the people as it was read. The people responded with shouts of "Amen!" "Amen!" -- we agree, so be it. And they bowed in worship of God. They embraced the Word of God back into their lives.
When the Word of God is left out of a society's life, it is only a matter of time before that society is reduced to confusion and shambles because there is simply no authoritative moral point of reference to guide that society. The word of God must be central to man's existence.
So, question: Is the word of God central to your life?
Graciously, however, God allowed them to regain favor and return to the land of Judah. Nehemiah, together with some priests and outstanding teachers such as Ezra, was among those touched by God to help the returnees rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and the temple; along with ensuring that the people were properly resettled in the land of Judah.
But how was life going to be from that point on? What was going to be the foundation or point of reference for the "new nation"? That is the significance of the above scene. The leaders realized that the people had to be instructed in the Law of God. They had to be made aware that the Word of the Living God had to be given a foundational and central place in their lives if they were to prosper. So Ezra read the "Bible" to them from morning till noon and the other priests took time to explain the meaning of God's word to the people as it was read. The people responded with shouts of "Amen!" "Amen!" -- we agree, so be it. And they bowed in worship of God. They embraced the Word of God back into their lives.
When the Word of God is left out of a society's life, it is only a matter of time before that society is reduced to confusion and shambles because there is simply no authoritative moral point of reference to guide that society. The word of God must be central to man's existence.
So, question: Is the word of God central to your life?
Prayer: Father, I thank you for your Word. May your Word never depart from my mouth. Please help me to meditate on it day and night and observe to do according to all that is written in it so that I can make my way prosperous and have good success. Amen.