Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. Then he 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. -Nehemiah 8:1-3
Jerusalem’s newly rebuilt walls began the extensive rebuilding which was needing to be done. Reflecting the ragged walls and piled rubble of the broken down city, the moral state of the people was in great disarray. This cried for attention.
The remnant of Judah was fresh from captivity in Babylon. Years before they had been carried away in punishment for their sins. Generations of rebellion and ignorance of God’s law led to this.
They didn’t want to go through another captivity. But the people did not know what the law said. God’s law needed to be known, or the people would not be able to follow it, and if it was not followed God would not bless them. Something needed to be done.
So Ezra read the law of Moses for all the people to hear. They stood all day and listened. But the people did not understand the meaning of what was read. They didn’t get it. Not only did they need to hear the law, they needed it to be broken down so they could understand it.
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. -Nehemiah 8:7-8
This remnant of Judah is not the only people who have experienced spiritual deficit. As a nation, as a generation, we have the same problem. We have forgotten our God, and already we see the results that rebellion brings.
God can not bless us if we don’t obey Him. We can’t know how to obey Him if we don’t know what He says. We can’t know what He says unless we read His Word. Every one of us needs to be in our Bibles daily so we can get to know the heart of our God.
Our nation is desperately in need of revival. Revival starts with me, it starts with you, purposely seeking God and letting Him mold us into the image of Jesus Christ. That’s why I started Project Nehemiah 8 January 2017.
Project N8 is a group that reads through the Bible in 6 months. Ten chapters of the Bible a day, weekly meetings for accountability & encouragement and articles for digging deeper into each week’s chunk of scripture all help members make a habit of getting into God’s word daily.
Will you give your attention to the law of God like the remnant did that day?