WEDNESDAY, 2 APRIL 2025
TEXT: NEHEMIAH
8:1-12
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.
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.
7: The Levites—Jeshua,
Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the 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 understood what was being read.
9: Then 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.
10: Nehemiah 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.”
11: The Levites calmed
all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy 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.
(New International
Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC: COMPREHENDING
GOD'S WORD
It
is one thing to read a document and yet another to understand its meaning.
The
Israelites read God's word (The Torah) which was brought by Ezra, leading to
the spiritual revival of the nation.
Reading
God's word was respected and anticipated by the Israelites with keen interest
(vs 1-5).
God's
word was made clear to the people and they understood its meaning.
Understanding
God's word made the Israelites weep (vs.9) as they got to understand how far
they had gone away from obeying God's word.
But
they were reminded that, instead of mourning and grieving, they should rejoice
and celebrate because God had been gracious to have brought His word to them.
QUESTION: Has reading God's word changed your life and
ignited a revival that you are willing to share with others?
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to have the hunger for reading
your word so as it will bring about a change in me, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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