In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “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 in chapter eight and verse five of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how, “Ezra opened up the book in the sight of all the people” where we read,
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:
The verse reads, “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people;” Nehemiah began with the words, “and Ezra opened the book” 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, let loose, threw open and set free the written missive, document or letter of instruction” “in the sight” or “within the physical eyes or vision” “of all the people” which means “belonging to each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings of Israel”. Nehemiah shared how “Ezra”loosened the written document or law of God within the vision of every one of the “people” of Israel who were gathered.
The verse goes on to say, “(for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:” Nehemiah continued with the words, “(for he was above” or “because, since and on account that he, Ezra, was raised and elevated over” “all the people)” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings of Israel”, “and when he opened it” or “and at the time and moment he, Ezra, let loose, threw open and set free the written missive, document or letter of instruction”, “all the people stood up” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings rose up”. Nehemiah referred to how “Ezra” was elevated over the people, and when he let loose the written document of God's instruction, every one of the people of Israel in front of him rose to their feet.
When we think through Nehemiah's words in this verse, we learn how “Ezra” fulfilled the desire of the people of Israel who were gathered together as he “opened” the written law of God in their presence, and because he was elevated over them, the people responded by standing to their feet. This act demonstrated their reverence to what God had to say, and God wants everyone to honor Him in this manner. When we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days later, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us a reverence for His word that makes us be in a posture of “standing” when it is read.
Next time Nehemiah shares how, “Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God”, 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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