1 All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
This chapter is all about the great revival of the Jewish people. They had gone through an ordeal in building the wall, and at times it looked like they may not be able to accomplish it. But as we can see in chapter 8. the people came together as one. How did this happen? First, we have to note that the spirit of God was already working through the people. But also, when we look at Nehemiah’s story, we see that the people also came together in a practical way:
The officials came together to align behind Nehemiah’s mission The people came together to align in building of the wall The people came together to align in protecting the wall
The people came together understanding the divine mission; they leaned into God and God supported and protected them
Ezra reads from he Book of the Law of Moses. These are the first five books of scripture. Ezra, who is returning to Jerusalem, was instrumental in rebuilding the temple and returning the Jews to a proper state of worship. He was a scribe, so he understood scripture on a very intimate level.
You’ll notice that the scripture was read to all who understood. Everyone needed to understand, but not everyone could. Ezra reads the law from morning to noon and all the people listen attentively. This is evidence that Israel’s heart has turned back to God.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
We see here that God’s people prepared for the reading. First, they built a wooden platform especially for the reading. Second, many of the officials are in support of the reading. And third, the people rose, listened and responded to the word.
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
This is one of the major points of this chapter. Not only did Ezra read the word, but had people dispersed int he crowd to further read ad clarify the meaning. This is so important, because if we don’t have the meaning of the word, it doesn’t penetrate. God’s word is layered; there is an historical and spiritual level to almost each story. It is also written in a different time and culture; we must take the culture it was written in and place it in our own times. Third, our hearts are slow to convict us. Sometimes it takes time for the word to penetrate our souls. We must ingest it, bring it into our hearts and minds, and apply it.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”
All the people wept. Why? Because the reading brought them first to a state of understanding, then to a state of conviction. Conviction is the beginning of restoration. It comes from the hand of God, the Holy Spirit. It is God working in us. And it leads to salvation.
12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
After understanding that conviction brings the joy of restoration, they went away with joy. They were restored. Restoration comes through a process:
13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month 15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written. 16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. 18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
Nehemiah is recording a resurrection of the Feast of Tabernacles, which hadn’t been performed by the jews since the Book of Joshua. But what this sections really about is obedience. The Israelites are once again obedient to God, and in their obedience they finally find joy.