Neh 8:1–6

8:1
all the people gathered together in the plaza which was in front of the
Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of
Moses which the Lord had commanded Israel.
2
So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men
and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened
on the first day of the seventh month.)
3
So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till
noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All
the people were eager to hear the book of the law.
4
Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform constructed for this
purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah,
Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah,
Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5
Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for he was elevated
above all the people. When he opened the book, all the people stood up.
6
Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people replied “Amen!
Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the
Lord with their faces to the ground.

One thought:

Between the internet and the printing press we have become calloused to the wonder that it is to have God’s words to us easily accessible.

Three questions:

Why would Israel have been so eager to have the book of the law read and explained to them at this time?

Do you desire to know God’s word better?

Read your bible for half an hour this week (you could even do it with someone else)

Prayer:

Praise God for His words to us. Give thanks that we can so easily access them. Ask God to help you and others grow in eagerness to read what He has spoken.

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