8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
LORD, I pray that there will be an outcry for people to demand to hear what your word said according to the law of Moses in my community. The temple is built, the gate and wall is completed and now the people want to hear the Word of the Lord!!!!
2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Ezra responded by bringing the law before the people. Lord, may we have leaders who will hear the cry of wanting to hear your Word.
3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
When God's Word is clearly read, people will listen. Too many people underestimate how people will respond to what God has to say. It is our responsibility to teach exactly what God has to say. It is His Word and He is responsible for what he said.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Ezra was not alone when he read God's Word. There were 13 other men on his right and left who stood with him. Lord, cause people to gather, hear and prepare people who will stand up with the leader to make sure your Word is read properly.
5 And 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 the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
People then and now respond to the Word of God the same way. Lord, send a revival in the hearing of your Word.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
While Ezra was reading, there were those who were explaining what they were hearing.
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
All that read the book, made sure the people understood what the Word of God was saying. Lord, prepare the men and women who know what you are saying to speak up and clearly to those of us who want to hear what you have to say.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
Nehemiah, Ezra, priest, and Levites taught the people! The people mourned and they encouraged the people to stop crying and receive that this is the Day of the Lord! When the people first heard the Word, they cried.
10 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.
They told them to go their way. Do not be sad. They were grieved. They looked very sad. But the leaders told them to look up and don't look back at what they did not do right or did not know. Celebrate the Word of God you now know! When you look good, you make God look good. God's joy is viewed by your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
The people were upset. Many probably wondered why so much of their time was wasted by those who said they heard from God. After hearing the Word for themselves, they cried. The leaders who knew God encouraged them to move forward and receive what they knew the Word said.
12 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.
When the people stopped crying, they moved forward. They obeyed the men of God and joy was in the world.
13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.
Ezra with the leaders gathered the second day to hear the Word of the Lord. Ezra took the time to teach the leaders. Lord, thank you for leaders who will gather to hear Your Word and teach us what you said.
14 And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:
15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.
The people found out that they should live in booths. The booths reminded them of how life was during the Exodus. God likes a good time with meaning. When we observe what life was like during the deliverance from Egypt, it should be a happy and joyous occasion.
God loves history. History marks what life was like during a particular time. When we reflect on others, we have time to examine ourselves.
18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
The Word of God was read and the people were having a good time.! What a might marvelous God is God!!!
My Minute Song
Nehemiah 8
The people cried out
We want to hear
What the Word of God said
Ezra Ezra
Will you tell us, tell us
What the Word of the Lord
Has to say?
Ezra and the others
Who were his called his brothers said
Hear ye
The Word of the Lord!
And the people heard
But, they cried at first
Then they begin to
Sing,
then they began to dance,
they told others
They ate and drink and build booths
Booth up here
Booth down there
You get a booth you get a booth you get a booth
Let's celebrate
We’ve heard the Word of the Lord!
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