High School reunions and Family reunions are two traditions
that bring people back to their roots. Though in some cases these milestone-celebrating
events can cause a great deal of hesitation or anxiety (depending on who you
will see at these functions), more often than not, these kinds of parties offer
everyone in attendance a unique opportunity to check up on special friends and
family members. However, on occasions like this, people are inevitably given to
investigating how they stand up to their peers of yesteryear and some even
weigh their success according to how they compare to their cousins or long-lost
friends. Depending on what is uncovered, the reunion can either give people a
reason to celebrate or go home disappointed.
In Nehemiah 8, a reunion of sorts takes place for the Jewish
people. This milestone event comes as they commemorate the completed
wall-building project. However, this reunion is not with a graduating class or
extended family. Instead, they are reunited in this chapter with the Law of
God. Imagine competing with or comparing oneself to that high of a standard! Let
us see if this reunion ends in celebration or in disappointment as we look at
two actions involved in the reunion of Nehemiah 8.
The Law is
Presented-8:1-8
Nehemiah 7 provides an account of all the men, priests,
Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and other servants who now
resided within Jerusalem’s newly constructed walls. The whole combined assembly
numbered 42, 360 (not including the male and female slaves). This small but
resilient people finally had the protection that a sturdy perimeter provided
and the opportunity to flourish for God’s glory. Now that the construction was
complete, it was time to fill the space with a dynamic, God-glorifying nation.
While Nehemiah 1-7 describes how God rebuilds a wall and
provides a practical blessing, Nehemiah 8ff describes how God rebuilds a distinct
community of His people, thereby providing a spiritual blessing. What is the
first order of business to this end? The answer involves re-acquaintance with
the law. As chapter 8 begins, Nehemiah recalls how “…all the people gathered as
one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra
the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to
Israel…” (8:1). In this account we learn two things about the community in
Jerusalem: they were united (“all the people gathered as one man…”) and they
requested to hear from God (“they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of
the law…”).
In response to this united request, “…Ezra the priest
brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with
understanding, on the first day of the seventh month…” (8:2). Most scholars
believe that the “law” mentioned here refers to the Pentateuch (first five
books of the Old Testament). Although, by this time, the law was a familiar
document, something very unfamiliar took place when this code was read in
Nehemiah 8. Ezra made the Scriptures available to everyone, “men, women and all
who could listen.” Although women did not participate in ordinary meetings,
here not only were they permitted to attend, but so were any children old
enough to understand what was being said. No longer was the law reserved exclusively
for professionals to preserve and teach. God’s message to His people was
something from which all could learn.
Perhaps with a new temple (see Ezra) and a newly designed
wall (see Nehemiah 1-7), God saw fit to make renovations in how His revelation
was distributed.
The details surrounding what took place at this initial
reading indicate that this was a special occasion in the life of the Jewish
people. According to what Nehemiah says next, Ezra, “read from it before the
square which was in front of the Water Gate form early morning until midday, in
the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people
were attentive to the book of the law…” (8:3). The prominent place Ezra took
advantage of (in front of the Water Gate), the time He decided to begin (from
early morning) and the running time given to this exposition (until midday),
paint this occasion in vibrant, eye-catching colors. Everyone showed up for
this and, not only were they present, but they were so taken by the
presentation of God’s Word that Nehemiah reveals, “they were attentive” for no
less than five hours!
To add to the ceremony of this moment, “Ezra the scribe
stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And Beside him
stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hiliiah, and Maaseiah on his right
hand; and Pedaiah, MIshael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and
Meshullam on his left hand…” (8:4).
The ancient pulpit that was erected and the associates
standing nearby work together to indicate how significant everyone believed
this presentation to be in their lives and history.
To put the final touches on his account, Nehemiah describes
for us exactly what kind of mood was present when all of this took place, “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….” (8:5). A quiet
reverence, respect, and sense of awe enveloped these Jews as they stood and listened
to the words of God (from daybreak till noon [8:3]).
The entire description of this inaugural/celebratory service
suggests that the people of God (having just recently seen His mighty hand of
provision in the rebuilding of their wall), respected and revered His
revelation with a new kind of reverence. What God had revealed in His word was
placed front and center on this day.
Following this well-attended and awe-inspiring homily on the
law, “Ezra blessed the Lord the great God. And all the people answered, ‘Amen,
Amen!’ while lifting up their heads; then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord
with their faces to the ground…” (8:6). In agreement with all that was
presented (as indicated by the exclamation “Amen, Amen!”), the people responded
to the reading of God’s word with fervent worship. Humbled by what was revealed
about the awesome power of God (in Genesis), the provision of God (Exodus), the
holiness of God (Leviticus), the plan of God (Numbers), and the law of God (Deuteronomy),
the people prostrate themselves on the ground in humility. Though this kind of
response is unfortunately not commonplace in western church services, when one
understands how everyone in attendance in Nehemiah 8 actually paid close
attention to what was said, bowing down and worshipping seems a natural and
appropriate response to this kind of presentation of God and His matchless
glory.
In addition to humble worship, Ezra’s presentation of the
Word of God was followed by detailed explanations, “Also Jeshua, Bani,
Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah,
Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the
people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God,
translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading” (8:7-8). For
those in attendance on this day, it was not enough to hear the word of God;
these wanted to study it and understand it so that its “sense” could be applied
appropriately in their context.
This presentation of
the Law reveals that not only did the people desire the word of God, they
worshiped God in response to its preaching and wanted to study it for
themselves. As far as building a distinct group of Godly people is concerned,
this seems to be a wonderful first step in the right direction.
But why? What is the Law? The Law was God’s Old Testament
prescription for entering into and maintaining a right relationship with God
for the Jewish people. As no other nation possessed this Law and no other
people was given a similar program for relationship, the Torah (first five
books of the Old Testament) was a sanctifying agent in the lives of Old
Testament Jews. Attention to and application of the law of God set the Jews
apart from every other nation. Inasmuch as the Jewish nation had recently been
in exile and unable to enjoy a worship service like this, such presentations
helped remind the Jews of their distinction and special place in God’s program
of redemption. At the end of the day, these Jews would have been able to say
with conviction, “We have been made special because of our special God!”
The Law is
Celebrated-8:9-12
However, something else was happening, something that
required swift action from Nehemiah, “Then 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 were weeping when they heard the words of the law…” (8:9). After
being brought face-to-face with God’s matchless standard as presented in the
law, the people were humiliated to the point of despair. This is not unlike
what Isaiah concludes in Isaiah 6 after seeing the glory of God, “Woe is me,
for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of
unclean lips, because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”
What both Isaiah and the Jewish people of Nehemiah’s day
should have understood was that their confrontation with the holiness of the
Lord was evidence that God, in spite of their imperfections, desired to use
them in some amazing way. This is why Nehemiah encourages the people not to
mourn or weep. What God wanted to accomplished would be accomplished through
His holiness—not in their lack of holiness.
Instead of mourning and weeping, Nehemiah provides some
alternative activities, “…Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of
the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is
holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.’…” (8:10). “Eat of the fat” calls to mind the delicious, festive foods
that were prepared for special occasions. This along with “drink of the sweet”
suggest that Nehemiah wanted to see less grieving and more celebrating in
response to all that God had revealed to them. Also, everyone should be
included in this celebration—even the less fortunate, “send portions to him who
had nothing prepared.” Why? Nehemiah answers, “for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.”
Truly, the Jews had a lot to celebrate. God had brought them
out of exile, rebuilt their temple, warded off enemies during the construction
of the wall, and had reinvigorated a love for His word. In all of these
situations, “the joy of the Lord” was their “strength.” In each and every turn,
the weakness of the people that made them vulnerable was overwhelmed by the
strength of their God. This applied also to the Jews’ inability to keep the
Law. In other words, “it is Yahweh’s joy over his people that is the basis for
the hope that they will be saved or protected from His anger” (G. C. I. Wong).
The Levites spread this encouragement to the people
following Nehemiah’s initial command, “So the Levites calmed all the people,
saying, ‘Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved’…” (8:11). For so
long the people had been busy about something: getting home from being away,
rebuilding the temple, their homes, their wall, defending their families
against famine and multiple enemies, etc. Now, even in what was supposed to be
a joyous occasion, the people were busied themselves with their worries over
their inability to keep the law. Instead, as the Levites encourage here, the
Jews should “be still and know” that God was God (as revealed in His Word) and
celebrate that simple truth (see also Psalm 46:10).
Oh that we could learn to be a people that is less concerned
about what we can do and who God is, for the latter informs the former.
After this added insight was communicated, “All the people
went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival,
because they understood the words which had been made known to them….” (8:12). Finally,
after much toil and difficulty, the people are allowed to celebrate. What
instigates and informs this celebration—a proper understanding of God reached
after the presentation and study of His written word. Although at first the
Jews were intimidated when reunited with the Law of God, ultimately, this
reunion ends in celebration.
So What?
This passage
indicates that the revelation of God found in His written word carries with it
an awesome power to educate, convict, and ultimately inspire. In the
presentation of the Law, we see a people who approach God’s revelation with a
united reverent awe—the kind of awe that keeps their attention fixed on the
Scriptures. Can the way in which you approach the word of God be described in
the same way? In the celebration of the Law, we learned that while its standard
was too lofty for the Jews to reach (causing grief and unrest), ultimately what
is taught in the Scriptures is that God is greater and His strength makes up
for the gap between He and His people. This was a cause of celebration!
Does God’s revealed word carry the same capacity for us
today? Absolutely! In fact, there is an even greater capacity for inspiration
and change in what has been revealed since Nehemiah’s time for we have the entire
story. In the spirit of this passage, I invite all of you to stand and listen
carefully to what I mean.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The
light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John
1:1-4). He was in the world, and though the world was made through
him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his
own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision
or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:10-13). For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is
the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first
to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the
righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from
first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans
1:16-17). Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message
is heard through the word about Christ (Romans 10:17). What does the word about
Christ say? For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans
3:23) there is none righteous, not even one (3:10). But although the wages of
sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans
6:23) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even
death on a cross! Therefore God exalted
him to
the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. (Philippians 2:6-11). Remember,
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was
raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the
Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the
brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though
some have fallen asleep.(1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Therefore, If you declare with your mouth,
“Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified,
and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans
10:9-10). For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For
we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has
come: The old has gone,
the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17).
For when Christ came as high priest of the good things
that are now already here, He went through the greater and more
perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say,
is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by
means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once
for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal
redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes
of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them
so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished
to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that
we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)
What, then, shall we say in response
to these things? If God is for us, who can be
against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up
for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those
whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ
Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of
God and
is also interceding for us. Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or
hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. (Romans 8:31-37).
Be still and know that
He is God! Celebrate what is revealed in His Word! Let it make us a distinct
people that is set apart from this world and may we proclaim His Word to this
world that desperately needs to hear it!
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