At work they have begun playing Christmas songs. There is something about these songs that brings the singer out in people. We had so many customers singing or humming along with the CD's. I loved it! It meant that it was okay for me to do it too! I thanked the Lord for such inspiring music; music that touches the hearts of so many people and invites the Spirit to be there. It just makes my day!
Nehemiah 8
In this chapter we move from rebuilding the city, to rebuilding the people. This is one of my favorite chapters because it focuses on the goodness of the scriptures and the life changing power they hold. As a former seminary teacher I can really appreciate what is going on in this chapter.
One of the ways that the Lord rebuilds His people is through the scriptures. Whenever they need to be redirected, refocused, or revitalized the Lord turns them to the scriptures. In this chapter the people actually gather and ask for the scriptures to be read to them! They had finished rebuilding their city and the walls and in the process realized that maybe they needed to work on themselves.
Why didn't they read them themselves? The people weren't familiar with the language they were written in. There had been so many nations interacting with each other that languages had changed. So they ask for help, "and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel." (v 1)
Ezra was a great choice to lead the people in studying the word of God. Ezra 7:10 gives us some insight into what kind of man he was: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments." He was committed to personal study of the Law, he looked for ways to apply them to his life, and then he taught it to others. Ezra must have been a master teacher because verse 3 tells us that the people listened attentively from morning until lunchtime. That's about six hours! This goes on for a week!
I have tasted a little bit of the joy that Ezra must have felt when the people asked him to teach the scriptures and then they sat for six hours and listened. My group of twenty-seven students would come each morning to learn about the scriptures for about an hour before they were off to school. There were days when the Spirit was definitely in the class, so much so, that none of us wanted to leave. Those are the days you live for as a teacher!
As Ezra read and the small group of leaders explained, the congregation’s first response was one of conviction and grief (v 9). Guilt is one reaction that can come from studying the scriptures. The people wept because they knew they had been neglecting God’s word.
It can be hard to look at the way you are living and realize that you aren't living as God would like you to. When you recognize how much God loves you and the beauty of His plan, the ugliness of our own hearts can be tough to face.
Nehemiah recognizes what's going on and wants them to know that they shouldn't be too sad, instead they need to celebrate the change of heart they are feeling.
Assisted by the Levites, Nehemiah convinces the people to stop mourning and start celebrating (v 10-12).
"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them."
Did you catch that? When people understand the word of God, it brings them joy. We need to understand that the scriptures aren't “magic books” that change us just because we read them. They must be understood before they can enter our heart and create the desire to change a life. The word, “understanding” is used six times in this chapter, which shows that the scriptures are meant to be understood, which naturally brings joy.
There is something awesome in watching the Spirit grab hold of someone's heart so strongly that they feel inclined to change their lives. Maybe they stop swearing, drinking, or whatever their vice is; the important part is that they do it because they feel God's love for them. I have talked about the power of words in my blog before and the divine power that inspired the scriptures has the power to inspire people to change!
I have been blessed to see this happen in the lives of some of my students. There is no greater gift for a teacher than to see the divine power of the scriptures touch the hearts of their students. Ezra must have been on cloud nine as he watched the people's hearts soften! I know that my testimony of the scriptures and the power of God's love increased enormously with these experiences.
It gets better! The people not only have a change of heart, but they actually apply it to their lives and take action (vv 14-18). This is the dream come true! What a perfect scenario! First they hear the word (which they asked for), then their hearts are touched by the Spirit, then they are moved to change their behavior, and then they do it. This is a great example of the gospel in action!
If you hadn't noticed my enthusiasm for the scriptures is a little extreme. I love the scriptures and the changes it can bring to a person's life. I have seen it in my own life. This year of studying the scriptures everyday and writing about it has blessed me with "very great gladness" like that experienced in Jerusalem during this time of Ezra. I hope and pray that everyone will look to the scriptures for redirection, refocusing, and revitalization and feel that same joy!
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