Nehemiah - Chapter 8

1-8:

UNDERSTANDING THE LAW

Nehemiah 8 allows us a direct challenge to our complacent approach to the Bible and our tendency to regard the Law of Moses as only commanding grudging obedience.

The completion of the wall in chapter 6 sets the stage for chapter 8.

God's people finally have physical protection so now it is time for spiritual rebuilding. Now we begin the study of the verses that justify the name we gave to this time of scriptural reflection:

TRUE REVIVAL – HARD WORK IN HARD TIMES

Now, after a mysterious absence of 13 years, Ezra reappears to lead the people into spiritual revival as God's covenant people whose lives are ordered by him through the Law. Nehemiah now steps into the background during this time of spiritual restoration.

In the seventh month, our late September, the people gathered “as one man” in an open field near the Water Gate. Ezra brought the “Book of Moses” and began to read from it to the gathering. We cannot be sure how much of the Torah he brought (Torah generally means the first 5 books of the OT) but we do know he read for six hours.

In order to be seen and heard during the reading, Ezra stood upon a platform of wood constructed just for this purpose. He opened the book (or more accurately unrolled the scroll) and all the people stood as a gesture of respect. Ezra blessed the Lord and all the people joined in with him by saying “Amen – Amen”. Then they bowed in reverence. 

(SOUNDS VERY BAPTIST AT THIS POINT!)

Ezra read the Law from morning until midday. In all this time we are told the people were attentive to the reading. Not only did Ezra read from the Law, but many Levites helped the people to understand the Law. The Levites read distinctly from the book and then “gave the sense”. 

(SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE SUNDAY SCHOOL)

We must remember that most of these people had spent much of their lives in captivity in Babylon, and had likely not studied the law and in fact it is likely that most may have lost the Hebrew language during all those years, and now spoke Chaldean. So the Levites were helpful to translate and to interpret the writings of Moses.

9-12:

THE PEOPLE RESPOND

When the people heard and understood the Law, they began to weep. Perhaps the Law reading convicted them of their sin of maybe they realized that had obedience to the holy Law been given by their parents and grandparents, much suffering in exile could have been avoided.

The leaders (including Ezra and Nehemiah and the Levites) rebuked the people for weeping  and instead encouraged the people to celebrate.

Understanding finally the will of God should be a time for rejoicing.

13-18:

THE FEAST OF BOOTHS

Once again, in their desire to understand the Law, the leaders of Judah gathered to hear from Ezra. This time they learned about the Feast of Booths spoken of in Leviticus 23:34-43. This feast (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles) is on the 15th day of the seventh month (early fall). It includes days of rest, special offerings, feasting on newly harvested fruits, and living in booths (small structures of brush & sticks) for seven days.

By living in these small structures, the Israelites remember and honor the journey of their ancestors in the wilderness time.

For the first time in a very long time, everyone was in spiritual unity and the feeling of joy was among the people. Verse 17 says there was “great gladness”.

Here is wisdom still today for us. We must proclaim God's truth! We must take care that all our people understand that truth, for this is why Ezra had the Levites to further teach the people.

Here we see the value of understanding. We also see that understanding is not the final goal of God's word, but is critical to drawing closer to Him. When the people gained an understanding sense of the Law, they responded both emotionally and in behavior. They wept and then they rejoiced. The went out and celebrated. Then they honored God by reinstating the feast which remembers His salvation of His chosen people and His guidance and care of them in hard times.

God's truth brings a mental change that leads to the transformation of the heart and then through repentance, changes lives.