In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said of the people of Israel, “all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel”, and in chapter eight and verse two of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation” where we read,
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.
The verse reads, “And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and Ezra the priest” which means “and Ezra whose name means help and was the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem and a co-worker with Nehemiah” “brought the law” or “carried forth the direction, instruction, codes and statutes” “before the congregation” which means “in front and in the presence of the assembly, company and gathering” “both of men and women” or “which consisted with male and female human beings”. Nehemiah shared how “Ezra” carried forth the directives and instructions of God in the presence of the assembly of males and females.
The verse continues, “... and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.” Nehemiah added the words, “and all that could hear with understanding” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone who was given the ability for listening, perceiving and obeying by the use of discernment and insight”, “upon the first day” which means “on the primary sunrise to sunset” “of the seventh month” or “belonging to the seventh new moon or lunar month” which corresponds to October. Nehemiah referred to everyone of the people of Israel who were capable of perceiving the “law of God” did so upon the primary sunrise to sunset of the “seventh month” or “October”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Nehemiah that “Ezra” obeyed the gathered people of Israel's desire and came forth with the “book of the law”, and everyone who was capable of “hearing and perceiving” God's word did so upon within the “seventh month” or October of that same year. The temple was rebuilt, and the barrier wall was completed. Now the attention was to be upon the word of God. The instruction of God was most important to the people of Israel, and it should be the same for us as well. God desires a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead three days later. When we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a passion and desire to hear His word and to keep it by the means of His Holy Spirit. (See John 16:33; Acts 1:8)
Next time Nehemiah says Ezra, “read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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