The Preaching of God's Word

Nehemiah 8

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And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

Nehemiah 8:1-8

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We live in a land of freedoms. That was not the case in ancient Israel/Judah. So, as governor, when the building was completed, Nehemiah instructed the people to assemble together for the reading of the Law (God's Word). This was not an optional assembly, it was a mandated assembly. I can only imagine the reaction of Americans, if a mandate like this went out. Even some "Christians" would pitch a fit.

Not only was it mandated that they attend, but it was also a 4-6 hour meeting. We have a hard time getting Americans to sit for 1 hour. God forbid the preacher even think of preaching for an hour after a 20-30 minute song service. People's faces start contorting, eyes roll back in their heads, and I assure you the agitation is palpable.

We see in verse 5 that when the book of the Law was opened, the people stood up. They had to stand every time scripture was read. I don't normally include two pictures in my devotions, but this is

the mental image I get when I think about people having to stand for an extended period of time while God's word is read. Yet, that is exactly what happened.

While I may have a hard time imagining Americans taking part in a service like this, I think many could get behind what happened next. Verse 7 tells us that the people worshiped. That's right, they worshiped God, before the Law was read. They knew that they were about to get a bunch of "thou shalt and thou shalt not's" and they worshiped God. That is because worship is not about liking what you are about to hear, but about your relationship with and reverence for God. Included in this worship was their participation in the service.

Not only was the Law read, but it was taught so that they people understood. That is vital! We need to understand God's law, because that is what we will be judged by. I understand that we are not Jews, and that we are living in the New Testament era under grace, but that does not mean all of God's law does not apply to us. Some still does! For instance, "Thou Shalt Not Kill (murder)" still applies. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse in the court of law.

Today, many churches do not place enough emphasis on the Law. Many people, including preachers, find it boring and tedious. So, they stay away from it. However, the law is what convicts us of sin. Consider what the Apostle Paul told the church at Rome.

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What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 7:7

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That is exactly what happened when the law was read. Lets look at verse 9.

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And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

Nehemiah 8:9

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Nehemiah told the people not to mourn because he was setting a precedent for rejoicing at having the word of the Lord. He told them that the Word of the Lord was their strength (v. 10). Even though he was setting a precedent for future holy days, the Word of God still had the effect of convicting the people's hearts. They mourned because the realized how often and severely they had violated God's law and offended their Holy God. This broke their hearts.

That is exactly why we need the law in our lives today. We need to know the law so that we know what God's standards are. We need to know the law because that is what we will be judged by. We need to know the law so that we are convicted for our sins. We need to know the law to draw us closer to God and to make us more like his precious son. The Law is not evil, but praise God for grace!

Lord help me to love your law. Help me to study it and to know it. I pray that it would be a guide for me to protect me from sin, and to convict and correct me when I do sin. I pray that I would know your law better and thereby know you better.