Nehemiah 8:1 – 18 Ezra Reads the Law (Deuteronomy 31:9-13)
“At that time all the people gathered together at the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for this occasion. At his right side stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, and at his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places. So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read.
Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law. Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.” Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44; Zechariah 14:16-21)
On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Law. And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month.
So they proclaimed this message and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”
And the people went out, brought back branches, and made booths on their own rooftops, in their courtyards, in the court of the house of God, and in the squares by the Water Gate and by the Gate of Ephraim. The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing.
Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance.”
Ezra read the Law and the priests helped people understand. But why were people weeping? When Ezra was reading God’s Word, God’s Holy Spirit was convicting these people of their sins and the sins of their fathers that had caused them to be carried into exile in the first place. When the Jews realized the depth of their sins and the sins of their fathers, they wept bitterly for the loss of the nations of Judah and Israel and for all those years of exile. Hearing the words of Moses, the Jews realized that had their forefathers followed God’s commands to begin with, Jerusalem would never have been destroyed, and they would never have wound up in Babylon. The Jews were weeping in repentance and in remorse.
What happened next was wonderful! Rather than reproaching the people, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the priests encouraged them to celebrate and praise God because they had heard God’s Word, had understood it, and had taken it to heart. Now an enormous party broke out with food and feasting. Those who were wealthy sent portions to those who had less, so that everyone was able to celebrate.
After studying the scriptures, the Jews realized that it was time to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and did so with abandon. This celebration of Sukkot outstripped every other celebration of that feast since the return of Joshua. But notice something: the people combined celebrating with the reading of the Law.
APPLICATION: When we truly read and study the Word of God, it convicts us and changes us! 1 John 1:8 – 9 tells us, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The more we study God’s Word, the more we realize three things: the holiness of God, our own unworthy and sinful natures, and the magnificent grace of God.
There have always been three responses to the conviction of sins: some people when convicted, shy away, stifling their sense of sin, and trying to deny any unworthiness. Some people respond to the conviction of sin by attempting to become their own saviors, piling up good works. But the Bible tells us that “all our righteousness is as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” Some people realize that they are helpless without God’s deliverance from sin.
None of us can do anything that will cancel out sins because all of us have been born with a sin nature. But Jesus Christ, through His death and resurrection has made the ultimate sacrifice for those of us who will believe in Him. Romans 8:1 – 2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Once we realize that Jesus’s blood sacrifice on Calvary has freed us from our sins, we can rejoice, no matter our circumstances. At that point, the joy of the Lord truly will be our strength. Joy strengthens immune systems, making it possible for our bodies to fight off diseases. Joy gives us hope and helps us to carry on, even in the midst of the worst circumstances. And joy helps us to worship God, the One who has given us joy in the first place. Today, may the joy of the Lord go with you throughout all your activities!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, thank You for Your joy! May we carry that joy throughout all our lives, knowing that You are the One who has called us, who empowers us, and who saves us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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