Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 8:1-8

The work being finished, their first letters is employed, as it ought, in attending to God’s time. 1. Ezra, at the people’s request, reads and repauses it, ver. 1-8. 2. Nehemiah encourages them to rejoice on the occasion, ver. 9-12. 3. The solemn observance of the first of tabernacles, ver. 13-18. 1. AND ‘all the people gathered themselves together as one man, into the street that was before’ the water-gate, and they spake unto Ezra: the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2. And Ezra the priest ‘brought the law before the congregation, ‘both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding,’ upon the first day of the seventh month. 3. And he ‘read therein before the street that was before the water-gate, from the morning until mid-day, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and ’the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose, and besides him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Orijah, and Hilkiah, and Maafeiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand Pedaiah, and Mi’bael, and Machiah, and Hashum, and Ha’bbadana, Zechariah, and Me’bullam. 5. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, (for he was above all the people) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6. And Ezra blessed the LORD the great God: and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and ’they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7. Also Jefhua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maafeiah, Keiita, Azariah, Jorabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the law, and the people stood in their place. 8. So they read in the book, in the law of God distinctly, and gave the senile, and caused them to understand the reading. It was not the restoration of the temple service, nor the rebuilding the ruined wall, which was their great persection. Obedience was better than sacrifice, and fidelity to God a stronger barrier than the lofty towers. The people here seem to be sensible of this. 1. A great congregation assembled at the sea of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month, when the new year began, the day they had set up and dedicated the altar at their return from

A. The first time in the past, and probably ever since, on that account, had kept the first with greater solemnity. Men, women, and children, who were arrived at years of understanding, came: the place of assembly, for convenience, was the large street which led to the water-gate; and there Ezra, with his affidavit, v. 4. at their defie, ascending a pulpit, or wooden turret, that he might be better heard, brought forth the law of God, to be read and expounded to the congregation. Nate, (1.) We have reason to be thankful for commodious places for our religious assemblies; not but that the prayer of faith, and the preaching of the gospel, are acceptable services in every place. (2.) Then who serve God themselves, cannot fail to fallacious that their families should serve him too. (3.) Nothing, so needful in the education of our children, as early to acquaint them with the word of God. (4.) It is a pleasure to preach the word to those who desire to hear, and hunger and thrift abt. it.

2. With great solemnity Ezra opened the awful book, whilst the eyes of the people were fixed upon him. He began with a devout benediction, adoring the great God for the distinguishing mercy they enjoyed in these oracles of divine truth; to which the people joined their hearty Ames, worshipping with reverential humiliation this glorious Lord. He then proceeded with his affidavits, the priests and Levites, by turns to read and expound the most useful parts of the law, from morning till noon; either commenting upon it, to force and explain it; or in some have thought, translating it into the Chaldee tongue, as that was became by their captivity more familiar to them than the Hebrew. Nate, (1.) When we address ourselves to prayer on the word, the frame of our minds need be solemn and reverential, considering that God with whom we have to do. (2.) The reading of the word of God ought never to be omitted in the assembly of God’s faith. (3.) When we carry our bibles into the pulpit, it contains an admonition to us, that we speak according thereunto, and an appeal to them, as desiring to be judged thereby. (4.) Preaching the word is among the greatest means of grace; and they who zealously teach the Salvation of one’s body, will not tire of the work. A short sermon is a mark of a cold heart. (5.) Among all the abominations of the church of Rome, none is more disbelieved, than the deeming the scriptures from the people. (6.) They who are appointed to teach the knowledge of the scripture, should study rather to speak difficult and plain, that they may be understood, than elegantly, to be admired. (7.) Exposition of the scripture is highly useful, not only to open what is ablissive, but to enforce on the conscience what is plain and evident.

3. The people with fixed attention stood up to hear, and unwear and with the length of the time, hung upon the preacher’s lips. Nate, (1.) That sermon is likely to be effectual, when the audience is thus solemnly attentive. (2.) They who relish the word of God, will never think the time long which is spent in hearing it.

4. ¶ ‘And Nehemiah which is the Tirthatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and * the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, ‘This day it holy unto the LORD your God, * mourn not nor weep: for all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and * send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for ’this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11. So the Levites filled all the people, saying, ‘Hold your peace, for the day is holy, neither be ye grieved. 12. And all the people went their way to eat and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

Nehemiah 8:9-12

The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharp is a two-edged sword. We see here,

1. The deep impression it made upon the hearers hearers. Conscious of manified breaches, and trembling before a holy God, they all wept. Their hearts were tender, and they could not but tremble at his awful word, which denounced eternal death on every transgression. Nate, The law brings a terrible message to the conscience; if the gospel were not to afford us relief, we must lie down in everlasting mousnings.

2. Nehemiah and Ezra observed the deep effect the word had taken; and though no doubt they were glad to see them mourn for their sins, yet it being a day of rejoicing before the Lord, they endeavour to stay the people’s sorrows with kind encouragement. They must not grieve inordinately; even sorrow for sin may be excessive. They enjoin them therefore to refrain from tears, and keep a holy feast to the Lord, with liberal and charitable distributions to the poor, and joy in God as their strength; joy that enlivens and encourages the heart to every good word and work, and raises up the thrift above fear and dependency. Nate, (1.) It is a pleasing part of a minister’s duty to comfort those that require. (2.) They who sow in tears,

fail not to reap in joy. (3.) Whilst the Lord is pleased to cover our taboo with affluence, let us never forget to draw out our soul to the hungry: the greatest comfort of abundance is to do good with it. (4.) Holy joy will quicken us for every duty, and strengthen us for every conflict.

3. The people hereupon dried up their tears; and understanding the great and precious promises made to repentant Israel, rejoiced in hope of finding favour with their justly offended God. Nate, (1.) Though the scriptures pierce like a sword the heart of a sinner, they contain that balm which can cure the wound. (2.) A clear knowledge of God’s word is the way to sound and abiding confolation.

4. ¶ And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14. And they found written in the law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that ’the children of Israel should dwell in booths, in the feast of the seventh month: 15. And that ’they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and * fetch olive-branches, and pine-branches, and myrrhe-branches, and palm-branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. 16. ¶ So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the road of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water-gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17. And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths, and * fat under the booths: for since the days of Joshua the son of Nurs, unto that day, had not the children of Israel done so: and * there was very great gladness. 18. Also day by day, * from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God: and they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

Nehemiah 8:13-18

The word, which the preceding day had so much engaged their attention, and affected their hearts, is again applied to. The chief of the elders, priests, and Levites, especially solicitous to understand the law, assembled before Ezra, that he might explain what was obscure or difficult. Nate, (1.) They who are appointed to instruct others, need use double diligence to understand the mind of God themselves. (2.) Converbs with the oracles of God, affords a daily delightful entertainment to the faithful souls.—The consequence of this renewed attendance upon God’s word, was

1. A discovery of a long-neglected ordinance, the feast of tabernacles. As the time approached, Ezra probably selected that portion of scripture to remind them of it, and to direct them in the observance of it. Nate, (1.) A word spoken as feafon, how good is it? (2.) Careful reading God’s word, will convince us of many negligence and ignorance.

2. A proclamation is made for the observance of it, both at Jerusalem and the other cities, v. 15.

3. The solemnity is most religiously observed. Since the days of Joshua, had not such a feast been kept with such exactness, holy joy, and daily diligent and serious attendance on the word of God. Nate, (1.) They who have their hearts right with God, will be diligent and serious observers of all his institutions. (2.) Our future hours will be over most comfortably and profitably employed in the oracles of truth. (3.) When we are waiting on God in the way of his ordinance, he will meet us in them, and fill our hearts with joy and gladness.