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“⁵ And the Levites – Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah – said: ‘Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. ’‘Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. NIV

Reading through these opening verses again, as a prelude to verse 5, it underlined for me how deeply serious these people were in their coming to God. Here is a rebuke to our often casual, and even careless, approach to ‘worship’. In fact, I heard a wise, seasoned leader say in a recent interview, that one of his greatest concerns about the contemporary church is that we have turned worship into a form of entertainment.

If the Lord’s prayer is, as we often say, a ‘pattern prayer’ (and I have no good reason to think otherwise), then we see in it that praise comes first; the glory and honour of God, the hallowing of His Name takes priority. This is a pattern we see elsewhere in the Bible. Praise should be first and foremost. Say ‘thank you’ before ‘please’. Here, they were not only praising God but also praying for Him to be greatly praised. The ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ were all wrapped up together.

‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.’ (The Westminster Shorter Catechism)

PRAYER: Lord God, may the prayer ‘Hallowed be your Name’ be my supreme prayer, and the deep longing behind every other request I bring to you.

“On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. ² Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. ³ They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshipping the Lord their God. ⁴ Standing on the stairs of the Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with loud voices to the Lord their God. ⁵ And the Levites – Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah – said: ‘Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.’ ‘Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise.“NIV

If only our leaders would call for such a solemn assembly now. I wonder, what would happen if people were to gather in churches and cathedrals all across the country (in fact, over the whole world), and confess their sins and cry to God for help? It would be magnificent in itself, regardless of any Divine intervention in the wake of it. But why would we not expect something wonderful to happen if we were to truly humble ourselves before Almighty God? If only. But I don’t want you to think I say this in a gloomy, pessimistic manner. I believe we who know what it is to pray should continue to petition heaven for a great turning back to the Lord. Jesus wants us ‘’to always pray and not give up’’ (Luke 18:1).

Well, we are about to experience one of the greatest prayers recorded in the Bible. It covers an amazing sweep of Old Testament history, and summarises God’s dealings with His own people. But before we get into the details, the first few verses describe this gathering which took place a week or so after the end of Tabernacles. It combined a balance of prayer, fasting, praise, Bible reading and confession/repentance. Furthermore, it was not a short, or comfortable, meeting:

‘’They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the LORD their GOD was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their GOD’’ (3, New Living Translation).

Many years ago, I listened to a message on miracles given by David Pawson. In it he said something like this: ‘God does not perform miracles over people who get fidgety in church after twenty minutes.’ He wasn’t saying we can earn signs and wonders by lengthy services. But he was observing that’s many congregations in the ‘third world’ seemed to see more miracles than we do in the west, and, generally speaking, when they gathered they didn’t have one eye on the clock.

Both corporately and personally we need to Give God time.

PRAYER: Lord, may we your people take you very seriously; and may we, as a nation, turn back to you. Have mercy on us Lord, for Jesus’ sake.

“¹³ On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered round Ezra the teacher of the Law 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 other leafy 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.” NIV

The leaders ‘’gathered around Ezra’’ (13) with the intention ‘’to give attention’’ to God’s Word. This then led to proclamation (14, 15): they heard the Word then spread the Word. All of which brings us to the ‘’So’’ in (16). The people responded with obedience; they took action regarding what they heard.

When God shows you something in His Book, be quick to do it. Repentance is more than saying ‘sorry’, or just feeling sorry. It is actually changing; it is taking action; it is turning – even though it may be costly or inconvenient to do so.

(For the background to what Ezra and the people did, have a look at Leviticus 23:33-36; 39-43/Deuteronomy 31:10-13)

Selwyn Hughes told a story about meeting a man at a conference. He was able to spend some time with him and help him with Bible reading. When Selwyn ran across him a little while afterwards he asked him, ‘Have you been reading reading your Bible?’ ‘Oh no sir,’ he replied. ‘I have found it has been reading me!’

“¹³ On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered round Ezra the teacher of the Law to give attention to the words of the Law. ” NIV

It is interesting to read Ezra 7, and see how great the link is between this man and the Law of God. (See especially  verses 6, 10, 11, 14). I remember Timothy Dudley Smith, in his masterful two-volume biography of John Stott, referring to verse 10, and likening Stott to this Old Testament teacher and leader:

‘’For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.’’

He emphasised the word order, and observed that John Stott, like Ezra, was devoted to studying, and obeying, and teaching the Bible. Before speaking it, he wanted to live it. He sincerely desired to be a Christian, and not just talk about it.

Is it surprising then, that such a serious Bible man as Ezra, had gathered around him others who were also deeply serious about Scripture? (Verse 13 – see also verse 18).

I said yesterday that our relationship to the Bible must be more than academic.

Today, I want to add that it’s got to be more than just superficial. Determine not to be an ‘ice-skater’ reader who just whizzes across the surface of Scripture. Years ago, I read a book about the church in Cambodia. One story has always stayed with me. It concerns a young man called Hom. Every day he worked in the fields. But when he stopped for his lunch break, it was said he took out his Bible and read it out loud, slowly, carefully, as if cherishing and embracing each word.

The first Christians in Jerusalem ‘’devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…’’ (Acts 2:42). May we do the same.

“¹¹ The Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.’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.” NIV

Don’t let your approach to the Bible be merely academic.

We read the Book of books not simply for information, but also for transformation. What the people did here came from ‘understanding’ what God’s Word said (12b), and they had the greatest celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles since Joshua’s day (17). They translated this Word into life, and obedience led to ‘’great’’ joy.

I think of these words of Jesus:

‘’Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them’’ (John 13:17).

A passage in James 2 also comes to mind:

‘’In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead’’ (verse 17).

I remember my dad having a popular commentary on the epistle of James, and in it, the author, Ethel Barrett, said, ‘Christianity is as practical as a pair of shoes; not just for putting on and showing, but for getting up and going.’

What is taken in is meant to be walked out.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, as I read your Word, show me what you would have me do, and strengthen me to do it.

“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.’ NIV

Tom Hale explains: ‘God-given joy is not merely happiness or a ‘’good feeling’’; it is rooted in our salvation. It is because our sins have been forgiven and we have been restored to fellowship with God that we can experience the joy of the LORD. That joy is a sign of God’s Holy Spirit within us (Galatians 5:22); and if God’s Spirit is in us, we will have God-given strength as well.’ ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.762.

I have often said that the fruit of the Spirit is nothing less than the character of Jesus, reproduced in the Christian by the Holy Spirit. So this is Jesus’ own joy imparted to us. The joy He Himself possessed (and possesses) He gives away to His own. As he said to His disciples:

‘’I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete’’ (John 15:11)

Prayer: Lord, please give us your help that we do not live below the level of our privileges in Christ

“⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear^[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.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.’” NIV

Hearing, reading, studying God’s Word does not always result in joy. Sometimes it causes you to mourn; it leads to conviction of sin. It seems that’s what happened here. But ‘’Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…’’ (2 Corinthians 7:10a). So such ‘’sorrow’’ should not linger, but may be quickly replaced by joy. That is the spirit of the message here. ‘’Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted’’ (Matthew 5:4)

Notice how Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites worked as a team to get God’s Word to the people. This was not a personality-driven ministry. No-one was above another. The pulled together in the cause of God. Certainly in the case of Ezra and Nehemiah, they were two big characters, but there’s not a whiff of friction or competition between them.For effective team ministry to take place a stake must be driven through the heart of egoism.

PRAYER: Lord, may we never lose sight of the fact that we all need each other, and we are stronger together.

“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.” NIV

It struck me this morning, as I was reading chapter 8, that Ezra has suddenly appeared on the scene, and I haven’t specifically noted it. Just to say that the ministries of Nehemiah and Ezra overlap, and their books should be read together to get a bigger picture of the time, and the circumstances they were facing. Warren Wiersbe explains: ‘When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 444 B.C., Ezra was already there, instructing the people in God’s law. When the work of rebuilding was completed, Ezra held a great ‘’Bible conference’’ during the Feast of Tabernacles.’ ‘With the Word’, p.268.

With regard to today’s reading, I have also found this quote helpful:‘Passages like this give scriptural confirmation of the need for preachers and teachers of God’s word, and for books to help explain it…Some Christians have the idea that they don’t need to read books about the Bible, such as commentaries. They say that only the Holy Spirit is needed to help one understand the Bible. Ezra certainly would not have agreed. After all, the Holy Spirit also helps writers write commentaries. It is pride that keeps people from wanting to learn from others.’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.761.

PRAYER: Lord, please give understanding to  your preachers, and through your preachers.

“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 worshipped the Lordwith their faces to the ground.“NIV

Sometimes, just the sight of my Bible on the desk next to me, or the feel of it in my hands, ignites a sense of joy which goes right through me and causes me to say inwardly, ‘I love this Book.’ I don’t report this to generate admiration in others, but simply to give testimony to the joy the Scriptures can bring to one heart. Of course, it is more than the sight, or the feel, of the Bible that should stoke the flames of gratitude and gladness; it is rather its contents that are the fuel for the flames. But that is why I regularly feel excited when I see my Bible – because it’s overall message is so overwhelmingly thrilling.

In today’s reading the response to God’s Word is joyful reverence. As you read your Bible, with an open heart, asking God to speak to you, at times you will want to lift up your hands in praise. At other times you may want to fall on your knees, and even on your face. Christian worship combines awe and intimacy.

Notice the people took their cue from Ezra. He led in praise, and they all ‘’responded’’. Leaders may well need to ‘eat last’ (as in a recent book title). But they must also go first – and others will follow.

PRAYER: Lord God, teach me to love your wonderful Book more and more. Indeed, teach me to love you, its Author, more and more. In its pages let me meet with you.