Nehemiah 8:1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Acts 17:2-3 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 28:23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Acts 8:30-35 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
I wonder what caused the people to seek the word of God to be read and explained to them. Was it because they had seen God working and giving them the ability and strength to rebuild the wall? Was it because of Ezra calling out their sin? Was it because of how Nehemiah walked faithfully in the power and strength of God? Was it because they saw the hand of God keeping their enemies at bay? It could be any one of these that brought them to a place of hunger for God’s word and a desire to live in obedience to it. They came together and asked that God’s word be read and then dispersed among the people were Levites who helped them understand what was being read to them and how to apply it into their lives.
There is so much busyness in our lives. So much distraction. So much time-consuming activity that this type of desire and seeking get pushed underwater so far that no spark of God’s word touches our soul and if it does the potential ignition spark is put out.
When was the last time you sought God’s word for the single purpose of wanting to honor and glorify Jesus Christ through humble obedience to its leading? In order to get into this frame of thought, there must be an awareness of self and of Jesus Christ, worldly and Godly, and of sin and holiness. In this awareness, a spark of desire knocks at our heart and mind. It is with this spark a consuming flame captures our heart, mind, and soul. It is with this consuming flame we begin our searching with a humble desire to be obedient followers of Jesus Christ.
