Friday, January 9, 2015

They spake unto Ezra

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(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Nehemiah 8:1–8, “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. 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. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

When the rebuilding was finished it was important that the Jews made sure that they understood what the Lord expected them to do. The Lord brought them out of the Land of Egypt so that He could bring them into the Promised Land. However, once they were in the Promised Land, they were required to remember that they belonged to the Lord and He had the right to tell them what was right and what was wrong. As long as they accepted the Lord’s commandments they would remain in the Land that the Lord had given them. Ezra, who was a priest but also an expert in the Law, was prepared to tell the people what was required. The Jews were also aware of the situation and asked Ezra to tell them what they needed to know. Everyone came together and Ezra began to read the Book of the Law to the people so that they would be properly informed of their obligations.

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