"THE BOOK." Nehemiah 8:5-12 Ezra stood on a platform that put him high above the people, and when he opened the book (scroll), they could see he was reading from the Book of the Law of God that Moses wrote. When they saw that, they all stood in reverence for the Word of God, even though they didn’t know what it said. That became a practice over the years, and when Jesus read the Word of God in the synagogue in Nazareth, He stood to read and sat down to explain and teach what He read.
Before reading, Ezra “Blessed the Lord, the great God.” This shows he was aware that he was about to read the inspired Word of God, which uniquely convicts people of sin, righteousness, and the coming judgment and gives instruction and guidance for their lives. The people were likely ignorant of the law being taught, but were willing to pay attention because of the obvious blessing of God on them, with the wall finished and order established in Judah.
Not all of the Lord's people have the same abilities, understanding, and God-given gifts. Nehemiah was a skilled organizer who knew how to get things done, both in building the wall and in establishing order in Jerusalem. Ezra had come to Jerusalem twelve or thirteen years earlier and had brought the temple vessels with him. When he arrived, the sacrifices and offerings were resumed, and the people were reminded again of who they were and what made the people of Israel unique. During that time, he had to teach what the scriptures said about mixed marriages and then bring about the necessary changes, although some obviously didn't comply with that teaching. As a "man of the book," he had spiritual authority that people recognized.
When the Word of God is read, whether in stories that illustrate life, sin, and their consequences or in moral teaching, there is a heightened awareness of the extent and consequences of sin, and of the need for repentance. This effect was seen generations earlier when King Josiah heard the Word of God read. Both he and the people were convicted, repented of their sins, and a great revival occurred. It also happened when Nehemiah had the scriptures read for three hours a day, as recorded in chapter 9. In the New Testament, the reading of the scriptures brought repentance of sin. Peter used the scriptures in his preaching and convicted the Jews of crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those who listened to Ezra's blessing of God responded with “Amen, Amen” and bowed in worship to the Lord. This showed their humility before God and their awareness of His holiness. They felt unworthy to lift their faces to heaven. When the law was read, it was immediately explained and applied to them, so they knew what it meant, and it moved them to weep before the Lord.
Personal achievements are examples of what God can do through people during their lifetime. Personal commitment to live for God is very different. Effective spiritual leaders are often not self- conscious about what they have done in life because they are busy doing what God wants. Those who are personally committed to the Lord are concerned with obeying Him rather than keeping track of what they have done. Respect for the Word of God, both when it is read publicly and when it is read privately, is needed today as well.
Ezra was a careful student of the scriptures, and he intended not only to know what the word of God said but also to obey it himself and teach others. He was committed to teaching others what the scriptures said and why it was important to apply biblical truth to their lives. It isn't enough to know what the Bible says. That can be learned without any real commitment. Those who teach must know it themselves, practice it themselves, and "be able to teach others also."
Ezra's teaching set the stage for Nehemiah's work and for the nation's return to the fear of God. He led the revival of scriptural teaching, while Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the wall and the orderly recovery of the nation as a law-abiding people. Two different kinds of men, each with a different work, were able to coordinate their efforts successfully.
When the people of God need to return to their roots, including moral living and spiritual practices, the use of the variety of gifts God gives to different people can be the key to doing so most effectively. Israel has a spiritual basis for its national identity that isn't the same as in other nations. In many countries, efforts are made to separate people's spiritual practices from their political and social practices. Israel's laws in Bible times that governed national life were the word of God, the statutes and precepts, and the commandments of Scripture.
For the people of God today, the preeminence of the word of God is both the cause and the key to revival. It is incumbent upon us to "rightly divide the word of truth." When the word of God is given a preeminent place before the people, not just the teachers and leaders, a movement can begin among the people, starting in each person's heart. Then the saints are unified by the word of God, not merely by the words and challenges of a charismatic leader.
A gathering of the Lord's people in an appropriate place for the right reason affects each one through the fellowship they express and share. In front of the "Water Gate" seems to be a suitable place to hear the “water of the word” of God read and interpreted. A spiritual leader whose heart has been repaired and who can teach the word of God is needed to help apply what is read.
Ezra had waited patiently for the right conditions and the right time before he was able to have the undivided attention of the Jews. He did not interfere with Nehemiah's building work. They both did what God wanted, in harmony with each other and under divine direction. When the right day came, soon after the wall was finished and within a month of the three fall Feasts of Jehovah, the people stood together as families, listening to the words of "The Book" as Ezra read it. He was on a high platform with six men on one side and seven on the other, so the people could see and hear him. They paid attention to him because they had wanted him "to bring the book" and read the words of God that Moses had written down.
The voice of God is heard in the public reading of the word of God. It is important for us to remember this and to pass that truth on to our children. The Scriptures are the inspired "breathings of God" to us, not merely a recitation of ancient stories and facts. Exhortation and instruction should accompany the reading of the word of God today, just as they did when men moved among the people to give them understanding of what the word meant. Recovery with tears and joyful celebration go together, as we are strengthened by facing and dealing with sin and by returning to the Lord with heartfelt reality.
Attention was given to this reading and to what accompanied it for six hours. The book was spread open before them all, and the men on either side of Ezra, standing with him, would have given the whole event a sense of respect and reverence as the people's spiritual need was felt. There was a verbal response by the people when they said, "Amen, Amen!" There was also a physical response as they lifted their hands and bowed their heads and faces toward the ground. There was also a spiritual response as they "worshipped the Lord."
Men assisted in this event, moving among the people and making sure they understood the teaching ministry Ezra was giving. The people's first response was guilt and anguish as they considered their failure to keep the laws. When they faced and understood what the Word of God said and the high standards of the law, they wept and grieved over sin. The result of this reading was conviction of sin and tears of repentance and restoration. When repentance is real, there is a change of mind and direction, and with change comes joy. The two leaders brought hope and joy back to the people through this holy activity before a holy God. The objective behind such a time is "a holy people" who will glorify God.
The joy of the Lord comes when the repentant sinner turns from their sins to trust the Savior who put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. A new relationship with God begins when we come to Him in faith and find the blessings of forgiveness and communion with Him to be real, personal, and lasting. When the distance caused by sin is removed by the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, joy comes when the barrier between God and us is gone.
The celebration of deliverance from the power and consequences of sin is not self-centered. We praise and celebrate our new relationship with God for what He does and says as He gives spiritual life and freedom through the redemption in Christ Jesus. We are strengthened by the kind of joy God has because of what His Son did; His joy enters us and gives us joy beyond expression.