8/25/2011 6:27:54 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: We understand the Word of God
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Nehemiah 8:1-8
Message of the verses: “1 ¶ And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.”
Today’s SD begins the eight chapter of the book of Nehemiah and also the eight chapter of Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Nehemiah, “Be Determined.” He entitles this chapter “The People and the Book,” and as mentioned in an earlier SD chapter 8-13 begin a new section in the book of Nehemiah for in the previous chapters the walls and the gates and locks for the gates were completed and not it was time for spiritual things to begin to happen. Dr. Wiersbe writes “Chapters 8-13 of the book record that spiritual ministry: instructing the people (chapter 8), confessing sin, (chapter 9), and dedicating the walls (chapters 10-12), and cleansing the fellowship (chapter 13).”
8/26/2011 9:28:37 AM
I have mentioned in an earlier SD that there are parts of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah that have a New Testament flavor and this chapter has that flavor along with chapter nine. Chapter eight is about a “Bible conference” that Nehemiah planed now that the walls were complete. He knew that there was surely a need to explain things to these Jewish exiles out of the Law and so he has Ezra come in and explain these things to the people. Why Ezra? Well I think that Ezra 7:10 can explain this best: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra had a heart for the learning and the teaching of the Word of God and this is exactly what these exiles needed. As I read from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary from this section I have to agree whole heartily that this is what America also needs.
As I begin this first section of this chapter I must quote from Wiersbe’s commentary “God’s Word must be understood before it can enter the heart and release its life-changing power. Note that six times in this chapter you can find ‘understanding’ mentioned (verses 2-3, 7-8, 12-13).”
There are three different sub-points under this first main point and the first sub-point is entitled “He brought the Book, and it covers the first four verses of Nehemiah eight.
It is important to note that the leaders chose the “Water Gate” to hold this “Bible Conference” for water in the Scriptures has two different meanings that surely go well with what they were doing here. Dr Wiersbe writes “water for washing is a picture of the Word of God (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26), while water for drinking is a picture of the Spirit of God (John 7:37-39).”
This Bible conference is said to take place on the first day of the seventh month, which was the Jewish equivalent of our New Year’s Day. This seventh month was an important month for the Jewish people, for not only was this first day important but during this month the Jews celebrated the Feast of Trumpets which took place on the first day of the month, the Day of Atonement took place on the tenth day of this month, and the Feast of Tabernacles ran from the fifteenth day to the twenty-first day and this can be seen in Lev. 23:23-44.
The Book that Ezra taught from was the Book of the Law that was given to Israel by Moses who got it from the Lord, and this was probably the first five books of the Bible which is called the Torah. The first five books of the Bible contain a lot of material and to explain all of this material would have been very difficult because of the time frame; however the book of Deuteronomy could have been what Ezra used. Deuteronomy means “the renewing of the Law,” and Moses wrote this book to explain the Law to the generation of Israel that had not been around during the giving of the first four books. The generation that came out of Egypt sinned and therefore the Lord said that all of them that were twenty years and older would die in the wilderness over the next forty years of their wondering, therefore there was a need for the book of Deuteronomy to be written.
Ezra stood on a wooden platform with his back to the wall and the gate probably so all could hear him better. It was kind of like a pulpit that he had and it is said that it was made for this occasion. There were thirteen men standing on the platform with him as seen from verse four. In verse seven there are thirteen more men standing with him. The first group could have been the tribal leaders while the second group could have been those who taught the Word of God.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Ezra 7:10 is one of my favorite passages in all the Word of God, for in it I see a man who loved the Word of God, a man who learned the Word of God and a man who taught the Word of God. All three things are very important to me.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Continue to read and study the Bible so that I can share what I have learned to those whom God brings into my life.
2. Continue to learn contentment.
8/26/2011 10:37:17 AM
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