This week, I want to reiterate the importance of looking to Scripture as the ultimate standard and plumb line for hearing from the Father. Anything we think we have received from God must align with His Word. Period.
As we learn from chapter 8 of Nehemiah this week, you will see how the Word of God is emphasized and how the people hear from God. I have inserted prayerful prompts for you throughout this study. I would encourage you to not rush through this week's study. Instead, find a quiet spot, free from distractions, and ask God to speak to You.
Lord, as I open Your Word — speak to me through Your Holy Spirit.
Selah. Be silent. Listen. Give it time.
1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
This is a beautiful chapter. I love that it begins with the heart of unity: “. . .all the people gathered as one man…" This is what Paul desired when he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians (12:12-13): "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
No matter your denomination or background, as followers of Christ, we are one!
Even though we have talked much of Nehemiah these past several chapters, we intersect with Ezra in this chapter. Hi, Ezra! Can you imagine thousands upon thousands of people congregating in the square ready to hear the Word?! From early morning until noontime, they listened and understood the Word of God. I am hungry to hear His Word and be transformed. Let's pause for a moment and be still. Ask Him to speak to you at this moment because He's ready.
Lord, speak to me. What do you have to say about my relationship with you, my heart, and my life?
Selah.
Note the time given in verse two. We know it is the first day of the seventh month and although not stated, this was actually The Feast of Trumpets.
The Jewish calendar is different than ours. The Jewish seventh month during Biblical times is actually our September-October. It is a sacred time to the Jewish people because it ushers in the final three of the seven annual feasts: The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:23-44).
Both The Feast of Trumpets and The Day of Atonement were meant to be personal days of introspection and for seeking forgiveness and cleansing.
4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 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. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God.
This is the first public reading of the Word. You wonder what the people were thinking as "Ezra opened the book . . ." What deep and sincere reverence there was for this Truth. When the book was opened, the people stood up! I can see this with my mind's eye: men, women, and children all congregating in the open square. As Ezra approaches the platform and begins to open the pages of the Book of the Law, the people stand – for hours – and listen! He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
As Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, the people responded. So often, we hear the Word but fail to respond.
Lord, what do you need me to hear? Let my heart be open.
Selah.
Hebrews 1:1 tells us that God speaks to us by His Son. If you feel as though God is not speaking, then it may be time to consider if you're responding to what He's already said. It's encouraging to have a "fresh" Word from the Lord, but we must be obedient to what He's already spoken.
While physical posture isn't significant, the posture of our spiritual heart is. When you hear the reading of the Word, spend time in prayer, and fellowship with other believers, what posture is your heart? We all have days where it seems more challenging than others. There are seasons when it feels like there is a "block" between God and us. As if He's distant or far off. If that's how you feel right now, know that it's not abnormal because we're human. Also, know that there's a path to freedom! I recently listened to a MercyTalk podcast by Mercy Multiplied. It gave some practical steps to connect with the Father. I mowed the yard while listening to the message and paused as I listened to it to practice (you can find two podcasts on this topic). It was profoundly beneficial for me spiritually, and I'm grateful the Lord spoke to me. Here is how I prayed so I could partner with God in understanding what was going on in my own heart (He knows, after all, for I was knitted together by Him!):
Lord, I am having difficulty identifying the obstacle in the way. Would you show me as I sit here with You?
Selah.
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
The lists of names above actually refer to Levitical (priestly) families who lived during this time. It was their duty to help the people understand the Law. Ah, this is where teaching becomes essential. Acts 8 contains a great story of Philip teaching an Ethiopian.
So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
It's not saying the Word of God is difficult to understand, but more so that it can be expounded upon and application can be taught.
This is why verse-by-verse teaching is so enriching to our spiritual lives. When sermons are always topical (prayer this week, healing that week, salvation the next), we can miss the whole counsel. We cheat ourselves out of the complete understanding of context, history, and application of the Word. Like Philip, we must be ready to go at any time and help others understand His Word.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, 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 nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
Remember above, I spoke of The Feast of Trumpets and how it was not a joyous celebration but a time of introspection and seeking forgiveness. That is why the Jews here were mourning and weeping – The Feast of Trumpets was meant to be a solemn time. However, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told the people not to cry because they heard from God.
10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
11 So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
I cherish the words the Levites spoke here, and I think it makes for a beautiful prayer:
Almighty God, help me to understand and respond to the Words you speak to me. Give me a heart that is willing to be still and recognize the authority of your Word. Teach me to eat and drink of your goodness and send portions to others. Let me not be a Truth Hoarder, but to invite people in my sphere of influence to eat the fat and drink the goodness of your Truth. Amen!
Selah.
13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. 14 And they found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, 15 and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written."
Day two. The Levites were teachers of the Law and yet knew they had to be instructed as well. This is why it is so critical that our pastors/teachers spend plenty of time studying the Word of God for themselves. They have a great responsibility to God to properly teach His Truth. However, they must first have a personal understanding to teach it to others. The same is true for each of us as we teach those in our sphere of influence!
Reread verse 14: "And they found written in the Law. . ." Was that Word there all along? Yeppers. Did they see it? Nopers.
Matthew Henry says it best, "Those that diligently search the scriptures will find those things written there which they had forgotten or not duly considered."
This is an excellent case for establishing a consistent quiet time with the Lord, taking notes during Bible study, and reviewing them later. Even though we've been taught something once, we may have forgotten (or didn't even realize it existed)! I'm forgetful, just ask my husband.
Let's talk about the “booths” mentioned. The Israelites were celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles or, also known as, The Feast of Booths. This was one of the seven Jewish feasts which required them to be in Jerusalem.
Everyone would leave their home, come together, build temporary dwellings from branches, and live in these booths for seven days (Leviticus 23:42). This was an act to remember the time spent wandering in the wilderness. It's a joyous celebration, unlike The Feast of Trumpets and The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.
The people did as the Word instructed! Imagine standing on the wall overlooking the city and seeing booth after booth. The people living in the booths were delivered from captivity but hadn't carried out this Law since the time of Joshua! It must've brought them a deep sense of God's goodness and provision as they sat in those booths. It made them consider their ancestor's liberation from Egypt and the deliverance they experienced. Psalm 61:3 says, "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy."
My prayer is that you will sit under His shelter, thinking about your captivity, and remembering His faithful deliverance through Christ Amen.
Father, I thank you that I sit under Your shelter. You have lead me out of captivity and into the Light. I want to partner with you in this life. What is the next thing I need to do today?
Selah. Be silent. Listen. Give it time.