Nehemiah 8:1–12

Explore the Bible
Dean, School of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WORD

Nehemiah 8:1–12

Until this point in the narrative Nehemiah has been the central character, other than some pesky opposing leaders. Readers are re-introduced to Ezra the priest/scribe more than a decade after his initial relocation from Babylon to Jerusalem. In contrast to the corrupt high priest Eliashib, Ezra was a spiritual leader while Nehemiah served as a godly civil leader. Nehemiah was responsible for rebuilding the walls and securing the inhabitants of Jerusalem, whereas Ezra was rebuilding the faith in God by reminding Judah’s remnant of the covenant recorded in the Law (Torah).

Nehemiah led the civil government knowing that he was a steward entrusted with leadership responsibilities by God. His function as a spiritual leader was limited — as all governmental roles are — with actions speaking louder than words. Moral leadership reflecting the character of God and His authority would come from those who were qualified to teach the Law. Ezra and selected Levites would communicate the message and call the people back to God.

Desire the Word (1–3)

Tishri, the seventh lunar month, marked three annual events prescribed by the Torah. The first day of the month marked the Feast of Trumpets. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, was to be celebrated on day 10. Days 14 through 21 marked Sukkoth, the Feast of Booths. Each event was a reminder of God’s faithfulness and provision for His people through the years of transition from Egypt until they reached the Promised Land.

In the seventh month of the year recorded in Nehemiah 8, a solemn assembly was called for the public reading of the Torah. Men, women and children were invited to the assembly. Their express purpose for gathering was to listen to the Word of God.

Prepare to hear (4–8)

A wooden platform was constructed upon which Ezra stood as he read from the scroll. As the scribe opened the Law the people stood. Ezra blessed the Lord, perhaps beginning with the words used in modern Hebrew worship before reading the Torah: “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has chosen us from among the peoples and given us the Torah.” When he finished praying, all the people together said, “Amen, Amen.”

As Ezra read the Hebrew text, Levites explained its meaning. Not only did they provide an exposition of the narrative, they also translated the reading into the other languages of the people since many did not even speak Hebrew (Neh. 13:24).

One of the great sins of this period was that men of Jerusalem (including priests) were divorcing their wives and marrying unbelieving Gentile wives from the region (Ezra 9:1–2; Neh. 13:23–29; Mal. 2:1–16). They produced unbelieving children who did not even know the language of Scripture.

Listening to God’s Word is more important than acting upon impulse or emotion. Christians often listen to their own flesh and the counsel of the ungodly. As a result they make decisions that dishonor God, their families and themselves. They fail to recognize, as it says in Jeremiah 17:9, that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?”

Act upon the Word (9–12)

The writer of Hebrews described God’s Word as “sharper than any two-edged sword … a judge of the ideas and thoughts of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). As the people of Jerusalem listened to their ethnic and religious history, they were convicted of their rebellion against the God of the covenant. They wept bitter tears because they realized they were guilty before the Holy One who created them, who sustained them, yet whom they had utterly rejected.

The seventh month was a time for celebration, so weeping was not appropriate for the occasion. There is a time for weeping and a time for rejoicing (Eccles. 3:4) so the people were instructed to eat, drink and celebrate the faithfulness of God.