Nehemiah

Nehemiah 8: Hearing God's Word with joy

Begin in prayer

Before we hear how Ezra reads God's Word to the people, we ask the Lord to open our ears. Please ask Him to help our family understand, and to show us Jesus in all the Scriptures.

They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”

Luke 24:32

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us to understand what You say, and show us Jesus, who is the joy of Your people. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

On the first day of the seventh month, the people gather by the Water Gate and ask Ezra to bring the book of the law. Ezra reads from early morning until midday, standing on a wooden pulpit, to men, women and all who could understand. He blesses the LORD, and the people answer, “Amen, Amen,” with lifted hands, and bow with their faces to the ground. The Levites explain the reading, “so that they understood the reading,” and the people weep. The leaders tell them not to mourn, because the day is holy, and to eat, drink and send portions to those who have nothing. They say, “the joy of Yahweh is your strength,” and the people celebrate, because they understood the words. On the second day they find the command about booths and keep the feast seven days with great gladness.

As you read Nehemiah 8, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God speaks to His people in His Word, and the joy of the LORD is their strength.

The people ask for the Word, gathering as one man to tell Ezra to bring the book of the law (verse 1). Ezra reads from early morning until midday, and the Levites help the people understand (verses 3, 7 and 8). The first day of the seventh month was a holy day set by God's law (Leviticus 23 verses 24 and 25). When the people hear the law, they weep (verse 9), because it shows what God commands and how far they have fallen. Then the leaders say the day is holy to the LORD, and “the joy of Yahweh is your strength” (verse 10). That joy is in the LORD, who spoke to His people in His Word and called them to His feast. On the second day they find the command about booths and obey it with “very great gladness” (verse 17). Jesus opened the Scriptures to His disciples and showed that they speak of Him (Luke 24 verses 27 and 45).

How does Nehemiah 8 show us that God speaks to His people in His Word, and the joy of the LORD is their strength?

Ezra reads, and all the people listen.

The people gather in the wide place by the Water Gate (verse 1). Ezra reads from early morning until midday, and every ear is attentive (verse 3). When he opens the book, all the people stand (verse 5). They bless the LORD and bow with their faces to the ground (verse 6).

The Levites explain, so the people understand.

The Levites cause the people to understand (verse 7). The book is read distinctly, and the sense is given (verse 8). Understanding is the purpose of the reading, and the people stay in their place to receive it. Leaders and parents do this work still, by explaining what God says.

The people weep, and then the joy of the LORD is their strength.

The law makes them weep (verse 9). Then they are told that the day is holy and the joy of the LORD is their strength (verse 10). They go to eat, drink and share, “because they had understood the words that were declared to them” (verse 12). Jesus is the one all Scripture points to (Luke 24 verse 27), and joy in Him comes with forgiveness.

Memorise

Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I hear God's Word, and do I need Jesus to forgive me?

When Ezra read the law, the people wept. God's Word showed them what He commands and how far they had fallen. Then the leaders said, “the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”

That joy is found in Christ. The law could only show us our sin, and we cannot keep it. Jesus kept every command, and then He died on the cross for His people. On the third day He rose, and He opens the Scriptures so that hearts burn within us (Luke 24 verse 32). His sacrifice is enough, and no weeping of ours can add to it.

So hear His Word and come to Him. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven, and the joy of the LORD becomes that person's strength.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God speaks in His Word, and that all of it leads to Jesus. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His Word and for the joy He gives, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, and each one may thank God for a verse they heard.

I have taken your testimonies as a heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111

Lord, thank You for speaking to us in Your Word. Thank You for Jesus, who brings forgiveness and joy. Please open our ears this week, and lead each of us to turn from sin and trust Him. Amen.