Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
NEHEMIAH
Chapter 8
Summary Commentary
vv. 1-8 - The work of building and of census-taking is finished. It is now the first day of the seventh month on which the "Feast of Trumpets" was commenced and lasted for two days. On this occasion the people gather together in Jerusalem at the Water Gate where they request Ezra, who was both scribe and priest, to bring the Book of the Law of Moses and read it to them. Such reading was required by law to be done every 7 years (see Deuteronomy 31:10-13), but had not been done during the exile as well as since the first group of exiles had returned with Ezra 13 years before. It was resumed here at the request of the people indicating a re-kindled desire in their hearts toward the LORD their God.
Public reading of the Word of God is an important part of worship and learning. It is neglected to the peril of our souls.
When Ezra, who was standing on a wooden platform so that he was above the people, opened the book all the people stood. It is not written why they stood, but likely it was a gesture of reverence, respect and honor toward the Word of God.
Standing when the Word of God is read has been the practice of many in the Christian era, especially those who follow a liturgical form of worship, though not absolutely limited to them. It is definitely a commendable practice, but there is no command in Scripture to do it. Therefore, it is optional.
Before reading, Ezra offered a prayer of blessing to God to which the people said, "Amen, Amen" and then "bowed their heads, and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground."
There was an evident spirit of humility and adoration among this gathering of former exiles. No doubt they were extremely and truly grateful to be back in their native land. Such a spirit should permeate those of us who have been returned, by grace through faith, to "the Shepherd and Bishop of (our) souls," not only when we are assembled together, but every moment of every day of our sojourn on earth.
Ezra read from early morning until midday, about 6 hours, no doubt ceasing to read from time-to-time so the Levites who stood on both sides of him could explain the meaning to the people, who listened attentively.
This practice was followed by many churches in years gone by where there was both a pastor/preacher, who expounded the Scripture, and an exhorter who, after the exposition, made the application. That may still be the case in some places not known to this writer, but nowadays the general rule is the pastor/preacher both expounds and exhorts. Knowledge is only good if it is applied.
vv. 9-12 - The reading of the Law so touched the hearts of the people that they wept in sorrow for their sins. However, the day was not a day of sorrow, but a holy day of joy and gladness, and of feasting on the best foods before the LORD. Therefore, Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites exhorted the people not to weep, but to rejoice, noting "the joy of the LORD is your strength," and to minister to their poorer brethren who did not have the best foods for feasting. The people gave heed to this exhortation and repaired to their homes to do exactly as they were exhorted to do.
As noted above, the desire of the people to hear the Law of Moses read indicated a turn of their hearts toward God. Such a turn showed repentance on their part and was most certainly not overlooked by the LORD. Therefore, rather than be sorrowful, they could rejoice in the LORD's gracious provision and observe the Feast of Trumpets as it was intended to be observed.
A godly sorrow for sins is always in order and will be shown by repentance. But once they have been dealt with by turning to God from them, God remembers them no more and neither should we. The Christian life is a life of rejoicing, even in the midst of the most severe trials. "Rejoice in the Lord always," wrote the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4. He wrote that from a dark, damp Roman prison. Even in that situation, he could serve the brethren because "the joy of the LORD" was his strength. The Jews in our text needed to serve their poorer brethren, but in their sorrow they would have been less able, if not unable, to do that. Joy in the Lord is both mentally and physically healthful. "A merry heart does good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22a). It makes our service for the Lord and to one another a delightful duty.
vv. 13-18 - The day following the reading of the Law of Moses and of feasting, the leading men along with the priests and Levites came to Ezra for further instruction. They discovered the command for the people to live in booths during the Feast of Tabernacles. In obedience to the command, they instructed the people to go and gather the necessary material for the construction of the booths from "the mount', probably the Mount of Olives where there were an abundance of trees from which branches could be cut. In accordance with their rekindled desire toward the LORD, the people did as instructed, gathering the branches and building booths on the roofs and in the courts of their houses, and in many other places in the city, and observed the "Feast of Tabernacles" for seven days. Not since the days of Joshua, when the people had first entered into the land of Canaan, was the "Feast" so joyfully and so completely observed by all the congregation. Though it was not required, Ezra read from the Law of Moses each of the seven days, an indication of the enthusiasm which permeated the entire congregation.
God grant that we, under grace, be as joyful, obedient and enthusiastic in our worship of and service for our Lord.