Yesterday we looked at the book of Ezra and the rebuilding of the temple after the exile; today we look at the companion book: Nehemiah, chapter 8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that 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 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads 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, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Much like in Ezra, we find here in Nehemiah these significant lists of relationship: we are the people of God together. Both in this passage, and in the last chapter, we have Ezra and Nehemiah standing with one another, unified in leading the people. There are four keys to what is going on. First, there are the walls. Nehemiah's burden was for the walls. God wants us to have security - not some shallow, false security, but a true deep peace that all is well, no matter how badly we are outnumbered or opposed. Secondly, as we see here, there is worship. There is serious worship here, as they life of their hands, bow their heads, and fall on their faces. That leads to a commitment to the Word of God. They build a special place from which to read it; they took time to make sure the understood it. They responded to it, which leads to the fourth key: weeping. They saw in what they heard their sin failure, and disobedience to God. Such grief is not an end in itself; it is intended to be the good grief that leads to joy, a joy that comes from a renewed dependence on God to live by His word, to strengthen us for the task, to live out our lives the way He desires. Look around. Where do you find to worship? To spend time in His Word? What are the Walls of security He provides for you? What pictures for you His peace and joy? Take a picture; post it or send it. May we sense today that the Joy of the Lord is our Strength.
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