Global Church of the Nazarene DAY 29 OF 40 - Better Together Through Prayer And The Word

Global Church of the Nazarene DAY 29 OF 40 - Better Together Through Prayer And The Word

Nehemiah 8:5-8

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.

DAY 29 – SEEKING TO KNOW GOD’S WORD

How special is God’s Word to you? What is your reaction when you see a Bible? As Ezra opened the book all the people could see him because he was standing above them…

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 8:5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6 and Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stayed in their place. 8 They read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.

…the people all stood up…all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”…they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Ezra has not begun to read the Word; he has just opened the Book of the Law and praised ADONAI (God) the giver of the Law. The Israelites were ready for worship. They came and stood before Ezra ready for worship!

As Ezra began to read, many of the Israelites no longer understood Hebrew well. They had been exiled in Babylon and while there had spoken only Aramaic. It was so important for them to understand the Book of the Law as it was read to them; so we see a list of names in verse 7. These men were Levites. Their job was to assist the priest.

The job they had in this situation was to help the people that were standing for hours and listening to the Word. They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read. (Complete Jewish Bible)

LIFE APPLICATION: When you enter your place of worship, are you ready for worship, as the Israelites were? If not, what can you do to be ready?

Father, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18). Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105). Amen!

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