People Gathering as One - Nehemiah 8:1

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah counted the people of Israel who returned to Jerusalem to the completion of the barrier wall, and afterward, “the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities”, and in chapter eight and verse one of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street” where we read,

And 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. 

The verse reads, “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate;” Nehemiah began with the words, “and all the people gathered themselves together” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings both male and female congregated and assembled”, “as one man” or “similar and in likeness to a unified male human being” “into the street” which means “within the broad or open place or plaza” “that was before the water gate” or “that was in front and in the presence of the portal or entrance known as the Water Gate”. Nehemiah said every one of the people of “Israel” assembled within the broad way in front of the “Water Gate”.

The verse goes on to say, “and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “and they spoke unto Ezra the scribe” or “and they, the assembled crowd, uttered, declared and proclaimed to Ezra whose name means help and was the priest and scribe who led the reforms of the returned exiles in Jerusalem who was a co-worker with Nehemiah” “to bring the book of the law”which means “to attain and bring forth the document and writing pertaining to the direction, instruction, codes and statutes” “of Moses” or “belonging to Moses whose name means drawn and was the prophet and lawgiver who lead the people of Israel out of Exodus”, “which the LORD” which means “that Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “had commanded to Israel” or “gave charge to, ordered and appointed to Israel whose name means God prevails and was the name for the descendants and nation of descendants of Jacob”. Nehemiah shared how the people of Israel who assembled called upon “Ezra the priest” to carry forth the document in which was written by Moses the directives and instruction belonging to Jehovah God toward them. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah what the people of Israel did after the barrier wall was completed and they had returned to their homes. They assembled in unison with one another and called upon “Ezra the priest” to carry forth the written document that contained Jehovah God's directives and instructions for “Israel”. This was a great desire for the people of Israel, and reading the “law of God” is good for us as well. God wants us to know Him, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to be passionate and obedient to His instruction and “law”. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation”, 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".