Chapter 7
Now that the wall is finished, Nehemiah is taking care of all the paperwork involved in this whole project, and he records who came back from Babylon to Jerusalem.
He is very careful about the people all being able to document who they were, and some of the priests didn't have all their "papers" so they weren't permitted to participate in the duties of the priesthood.
This was very important, because God was very specific about who He wanted to come near Him in service.
And He is very particular about those He allows in His own personal Family today, too. He invites everyone, but only those who also want Him are given this privilege. Only those who know they deserve death, and let the Lamb of God be their personal Sacrifice.
He won't force Himself on anyone who doesn't want Him.
Chapter 8
Then everyone gathered to hear the reading of the Law to the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law (v. 3). This was a good time to do this, now that the work is done, to pause and reflect on God and His goodness to us. And the Levites were there, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
When the people learned how they hadn't been following the stipulations God required, they began to mourn; but it was the time of a very important Feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, which was a joyous celebration of being released from slavery. So,
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 (v.9).And Nehemiah the governor told the people how to celebrate this Feast, and told them to rejoice, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (v. 10).
And, the Levites calmed all the people, saying, Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because now they understood the words that had been made known to them (vs. 11-12).They all went out to get branches to build temporary shelters for a week. This was like a vacation. So they all camped out while they listened to God's Word being read to them from day to day.
This was like a camping retreat! Giving gifts like Christmas, and rejoicing in all God was doing for them, bringing them back to their land and back to Himself.
O my Father, thank You for all Your goodness and generosity to us! Thank You for this story of Ezra and Nehemiah, Your servants, and how they ministered to Your people and their response. Father, You are very emotional, and You have given us emotions to feel our joy and love for You and the sorrow that draws us to You, and all the other emotions that make us feel alive.
The reading of Your Law brought out conflicting emotions, and Your servants led them in understanding which emotions to pay attention to and which ones to ignore, because our emotions are not trustworthy to determine Truth. Your Word is Truth. Help me to always remember this.
When our emotions are flying wild all over the place, Father, help us to calm them with Your Word. Teach us how to manage how we tend to feel about what goes on in our lives, and when we feel weak, to remember that Your joy is our strength.
Help me, Father, to rejoice in You no matter what is happening all around me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
