Nehemiah 8 -- An Important Sequence

I once heard Greg Matte preach on this chapter.  He pointed out the relevant timing (it was the Jewish New Year – a time for introspection), the relevant location (at the Water Gate – where their spiritual thirst would be quenched), and the relevant leadership present (Nehemiah and Ezra with the people).

My commentary summed up what the people were feeling:  “When God’s people get away from loving, reading, and obeying the Word of God, they lose the blessing of God.  If we want to be like fruitful trees, we must delight in God’s Word …”  They had to understand the Word before they could rejoice in it.  The people actually had problems rejoicing because they became so convicted of what they hadn’t been doing.  But Ezra read them God’s Word and God transformed their minds (their understanding), their hearts (rejoicing), and their will (obeying).

No one back then had personal copies of God’s Word.  When Ezra brought out the nation’s copy of the Word of God and opened the scroll, the people immediately stood up in honor of the Word.  They remained standing for hours as he read and explained it.  This continued for a week.

Hearing the Word convicted the people of their sins, and this caused great mourning.  But they’d just celebrated the annual Day of Atonement, when God had dealt with their sins!  They should therefore have been celebrating and rejoicing in His forgiveness.  “It is as wrong to mourn when God has forgiven us as it is to rejoice when sin has conquered us.  The sinner has no reason for rejoicing and the forgiven child of God has no reason for mourning,” my commentary said.

Once we’ve been convicted, repented, and God has forgiven us, we not only are to rejoice.  We are also to obey God’s Word.  Here, they were just in time to do that with the Feast of Shelters, which included sharing food with others who didn’t have much.  “The mind grows by taking in, but the heart grows by giving out.”  This balanced their lives.

Father, thank You for a fresh dose of conviction.  I needed it.  Thank You for the joy it brings in spite of the sadness I feel when I realize I’ve disobeyed.  Please grow my obedience and my joy and lead me to celebrate Your love and mercy and grace in my life!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford