Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Nehemiah 8:1-12
Set – Nehemiah 8; Acts 1
Go! – Nehemiah 7-8; Acts 1
Nehemiah 8:1-12
1 When everyone had settled, they re-gathered in Jerusalem. Everyone met in the square that is in front of the water gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the book of the law, the word the Eternal sent through Moses to Israel. 2 Ezra the priest did as they asked, bringing God’s law to Israel. The community included both men and women—anyone who was able to understand was welcomed. This gathering took place on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Facing the people in the square, next to the water gate, he began to read excerpts. The document was massive, and just reading parts took him six or seven hours, from daybreak until noon. Everyone who was there heard him: men, women—anyone with the ability to understand. As he read, they were focused and listened carefully to the book of the law.
4 And as he read, Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform made for this very occasion. To his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Standing above the people so they could see and hear him, Ezra opened the book of the law. As he opened the book, everyone stood. 6 Then Ezra called out and blessed the Eternal, worshiping God’s greatness. With their hands raised to the heavens, the people called out loudly in response, crying, “Amen! So may it be!” Then they fell to their knees and bowed. With their faces to the ground, they worshiped the Eternal. 7-8 Ezra read the law, the people listened, and the Levites explained it to them. Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—these are the Levites who interpreted what Ezra read for the people.
9 Now, as God’s law was read, the people began to weep. But Nehemiah (the Persians’ appointed governor), Ezra the priest and scribe, and all the ministering Levites said to the people,
Leaders: This day is sacred to the Eternal One, your God. It is not a day for mourning and weeping.
Ezra: 10 Go back to your homes, and prepare a feast. Bring out the best food and drink you have, and welcome all to your table, especially those who have nothing. This day is special. It is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve over your past mistakes. Let the Eternal’s own joy be your protection!
Levites: 11 Be still. This is sacred time and space. Do not mourn.
12 Then the celebration really began. The people had heard God’s words and understood them. When the people went away to eat and to drink in their homes, no one was left out of the feasting, not even the poor.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
When people hear and obey My word, there is joy in their hearts and in their land. When they fail to do so, there is weeping and mourning because of the wickedness that reigns in the land. It had been decades since My people had really sat and listened to My word. When Ezra began to spend days reading to them six hours at a time, they were captured by My story.
I ask you, when was the last time you were captured by My story? It’s the story that brings out who I am and what I do for you.Your family history mingles with Mine. If you have accepted Me as Lord and Savior, your blood mingles with My blood as I shed it for you and cover your sins with My blood. The story confirms your identity in Me. Have you lost your identity? Find it again in Me and in the story of My word.
I don’t care what translation you use. Just pick it up and read it. Make it a part of your life. Learn the stories and the history of how I came to love not just the Israelites, but all people. Learn how I chose Abraham to father the nation of Israel and My chosen people to be a blessing to the world. Learn how I used the Isrealites to be a blessing to all nations and how I continually rescued them from the nations around them. Learn how the laws I gave them provide peace to a community and especially give peace to your heart in troubled times.
If you listen to My word, you learn about Me. You learn My plan for the world and for your life. You learn how to find Me when you think I am far off. You’ll find that I am always close at hand looking out for your good and working to bring you closer to Me. You’ll find that more than anything, I want you to find My saving grace and I want you to live with Me forever.
Become a student of My word. You’ll never grow tired of it when you fall in love with My story.
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