The day when the people gathered at the front of Water Gate to hear the Law read was significant and special. The Word of the LORD was read for the first time after a long time. The eyes of everyone were fixed and every ear attentive to Ezra who read the word from a wooden platform. They were focused on the word from the scroll.
As
the word was heard, the people were moved to tears. Though it was a day to celebrate many became emotional.
The leaders, namely Nehemiah who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe
and the Levites who were there to explain the word stressed to the people that
it was not a day of mourning. It was to be a day of celebration, a day where
everyone was urged to share a feast with the less fortunate. The people were
urged not to grieve but to find joy in LORD. For the joy of the LORD
would be the source of their strength. So the people
celebrated the day with festivity. They celebrated not because the wall was built
but because the Word was heard and understood.
As God’s people, we must learn to joyfully
hear the Word and rejoice in Him. He is the reason for our joy. Though we have
been saved, we are not immune from the trials of life. Hence, we must not only
exult in peace, but we must also learn to exult in trials. Here is what
James 1:2-4 urge us to do and tells us what that can do to us. He said, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you
encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of
your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” So hear the word of Paul to the Philippians
afresh. He said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians
4:4).
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