Hearing the Word of God
Nehemiah 8:1-10 NRSV
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 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. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped 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. So, they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. 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 when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Note here the devotion and also the like-mindedness of the people who as one person (that is, with one and the same faith and love) came together as the Lord’s temple, and they themselves asked their pontifex to bring the book and recount for them the commandments of the Law that they must observe, so that along with the rebuilt city, a structure of good works pleasing to God might spring up in case, just as before, neglect of religion should lead to the ruination of the city as well. (Bede – On Ezra and Nehemiah 3.26)
Faithful and forgiving God,
Have I ever wept at the reading of your Word? Can I say I have ever spent “from early morning until midday” reading your Word or meditating on your precepts? How “attentive to the book of the law” are my ears and my mind?
This event in Nehemiah convicts me, O Lord. What an awesome picture of hands lifted, and faces bowed in worship. What an example of faithful leaders helping “the people to understand the law,” giving “the sense, so that the people understood the reading.” What a moving response of tears at the reading of your Word.
Again, I ask, Lord, am I ever moved to tears? How can I be renewed in attentiveness to your Law? How can my mind and heart be opened to the richness of time spent in the Scriptures? I want to be revived with the strength and joy that come only from You.
Do this work in me, Holy Spirit, I pray.
Amen.
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
