QT: Ground Up Initiatives for Spirituality Nehemiah 8:1 Week 31: 26/07/2023. Wed
https://www.esv.org/Nehemiah8:1
Week 31: 26/07/2023. Wed
The surprising thing was that the initiative to read the Book of the Law of Moses was a ground-up initiative. It was the people who told Ezra to bring out the book.
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. (ESV)
Previously, the laymen had initiated the corrective action regarding the occurrences of mixed marriages within their community (Ezra 10:2–4), which matter was subsequently dealt with by their leaders.
Here in Nehemiah 8:1, it was again, not Ezra or the priests, but "the people" that sparked off the initiative to read the law on this occasion.
Furthermore, this was "the first day of the seventh month" (8:2), which was the Festival of Trumpets under Leviticus 23:24 and Number 29:1. There was no legal requirement to read from the law on this Festival.
When the people did things like having and acting on the desire for God's Word even when there were no legal obligations nor threats for this to be done, it pointed to real and deep seriousness and investment in knowing and doing God's Word.
REFLECTION: Do you go beyond the law, the requirements, the rules, and excel in knowing and doing God's Word?
