Nehemiah 8:1-8 – Be Word-centred

The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. On the first day of the seventh month, the sacred month in the Jewish calendar, the people gathered as one in front of the Water Gate. Ezra who was not mentioned during the building of the walls of Jerusalem was now being asked to bring the book of the Law of Moses. He was not just a priest but also a scribe skilled in the Law.  The good thing here was that the people wanted to hear the Law. So obviously they asked Ezra the godly scribe to read it for them.

Ezra read the Law of Moses to a great assembly of people who could understand. Instead of gathering at the temple ground, the gathering was at the Water Gate. This was because they needed a place to accommodate the bigger group. It was also because the Water Gate was one of the places of the center of life in the community.   

 

Those who gathered to listen to the reading of the Law comprised of men, women, and “all who could listen with understanding.” Verse 4 said that Ezra stood and read from  a wooden podium made for the purpose. Standing beside him on his left hand stood “…Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.” These were most likely the leaders of the community. It was important that the leaders band together for such a momentous occasion such as this.  How much of the Law was read was not specified, but we are told that Ezra read it from morning to midday.

 

This was the first time after a long time that the Word of God was read. So the people responded with enthusiasm and much respect. Everyone stood up for the reading of the Word. When Ezra blessed the LORD, the people  responded with Amen with lifted hands. Then they prostrated and with their faces on the ground, they worshipped the great Yahweh. Nehemiah 8:5-8 said that thirteen Levites namely Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah were at hand to explain the Law to the people. They were there to help explain the Word to the people to enable them to apply the law.  Reading alone was not sufficient, in order for people to aptly apply what they had heard, they must first understand it. That accounted for the presence of the Levites.  

 

The Word of God is a key component in our faith life. They are God’s revelation of Himself to us as well as His instruction for us. The Word of God must be read, studied, memorized, and applied if we are to know how to live a God-pleasing life. There is a need for us to accurately interpret the Word because our application of the truth can only be as accurate as our interpretation of it. So let’s take the admonition of 2 Timothy 2:15 seriously, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”