Nehemiah Chapter 8
My grandmother, who is in her late 80s, recently shared with me her Bible reading routine. Every day, after finishing her errands for the morning, she would sit in her favorite armchair and begin reading. She reads one chapter a day.
But there are moments where she simply does not understand what she reads, despite having been a believer since childhood.
What about sermons? I asked her. Oh, she replied. Those are much easier for me to understand.
Having someone explain and share the word of God is important for anyone, no matter what age we’re at, no matter how long we’ve followed the Lord.
That’s religious education. Its power should not be despised, thought of as only being extended to and necessary for the children and teens in church.
(After all, as I was reminded, in the Bible it’s the adults who make mistakes, not the children. And as we know from school, it’s those who make mistakes who need more time with their teachers!)
Nehemiah 8 demonstrates the power of both having and responding well to religious education teachers.
After centuries of floating adrift spiritually, the Jews as a congregation finally opened their hearts to being touched by God’s word.
Prior to this, there had not been a lack of teachers. God had sent prophet after prophet to lead the people back to His righteous law. The people, however, had chosen to remain stubborn.
But by God’s almighty power, their hearts had changed.
“Then [Ezra the priest] 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.” (Neh 8:3)
Everyone was focused on hearing God’s law over these few hours. No distractions. Knowing how we ourselves may struggle today with even a one-hour sermon, you and I can consider their hunger and resolve to grasp God’s word.
Additionally, we often implore our teenagers to go for the 3-week Student Theological Training Courses, citing the faith-building power of spending time intensely present with God and His word.
But if we adults had holidays like these teenagers do, would you and I willingly sign up for a similar seminar in church?
God saw His people’s desire. He responded. He fed them spiritual food.
Ezra and his fellow workers, empowered by God, “read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped [the people] to understand the reading.” (v8)
They understood! But this did not breed complacency.
The next 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.” (v13)
Indeed, it is those who serve the congregation that need even more religious education, since they are expected to be exemplary role models to God’s children and will receive a stricter judgment (Jas 3:1).
This further study proved to be crucial, for they rediscovered the commandment to keep the Feast of Booths.
Following God may mean making the choice to do what we’re uncomfortable with or unused to. What hence amazes me is the people’s united earnestness.
Immediately they tell all the cities to keep this festival, and everyone does, moving out to tents for a week despite it clearly being out of the comfort zone of people who have lived in paneled houses (Lev 23:42; Hag 1:4).
The Jews turned back to God in full unity and full sincerity.
They heard God’s word and took immediate action.
What about you and me?