Reading of the Book of Law

Bible Passage:  Nehemiah 8

Reading today’s passage kinds of reminds me of attending a Spiritual Meeting doesn’t it.

The people gathered together to hear the Word of God being read and explained.  But the response of the people then were quite different from ours today, isn’t it?

Why do you think the people then were mourning and weeping when they heard the Law of God?

For me – I think it is because they realised how much of the Word of God they have missed in their lives and how much they must have fallen short of the standards of God.  And they must have felt how much they have missed in tasting the sweetness of God’s Word.

It shows how much the people thirsted and longed for the Word of God.

As I reflect the end of another year of Bible reading … I wonder why is it that for many of us, we no longer crave and desire the Word of God as we have had in the past?  Though we gather for Spiritual Meetings, regular services – there is no passion for the Word of God.

Something to think about isn’t it?

However, when the people were mourning and weeping, Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites told the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.  (v. 9)

Why?

Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

~ Nehemiah 8:10

We are very good at the eating and drinking during Spiritual Meetings 🙂

But here the people were told not to sorrow for the joy of the Lord is their strength.

Yes, when we feel for the Word of God, there are times when we weep and mourn over our shortcomings.  And though weeping is necessary, it is not the final message God has for us.

“The hour of the Lord is your strength”!

This is a powerful statement of the effect of the Word of God!  And when we understand it, it brings joy.

This is a great encouragement for the grieving people who saw the evil in their lives and the lives of those around them and mourn over what it has produced!

The word that brings joy is that of forgiveness. God can forgive!

He does, and He will restore us just as He restored the nation of Israel.

That is what Jesus meant when He said, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). I don’t think you will ever be comforted until you learn to mourn. When you see the hurt, pain, and despair that sin can produce and you grieve over it, then you are ready for the comfort of forgiveness.

What does the joy of the LORD mean?

God alone has the solution to the problems of sin.  He has provided a way back to a life that is right in His eyes.

And how do we know what is right?  By learning to think like He thinks.  By seeing the world from His point of view.  By rejecting the pull and call of the so-called experts in the media who spout out advice and mantras that actually sounds good but can harm us spiritually.

We must start by listening closely to the Word of God.

That is the answer.

It will heal your life.

He sent forth His word and healed them, writes the psalmist (Psalm 107:20).

The ministry of the Word of God is to heal us.  And when we are healed, it creates in us a desire to share that healing with others.

I like how thoughtful Nehemiah was.  He urged the people to send portions of food to those who had nothing prepared.

This action is from someone whose lives have been healed by the Word of God. They start thinking of others who are hurting and want to share with them what they have learned.

So where do we go from here today?

2013 is about to start.  Let us once again reignite our love and passion for the Word of God.  For in so doing, we will not only save ourselves but the others around us.