Sunday: The People Gather
Read Nehemiah 8:1-2. What should this tell us about how important the Word of God was to the people?
When the Jews finally completed the building of the wall and moved into Jerusalem, they all gathered in Jerusalem’s open square in the seventh month.
The PeopleGather
The seventh month, the month of Tishri, was perhaps the most important month for the Israelites, as it was dedicated to the Feast of Trumpets (preparation for God’s judgment, 1st day of the month), the Day of Atonement (Judgment day, 10th day oaf the month), and the Feast of Tabernacles (remembering God’s deliverance from Egypt and His provision through the journey in the wilderness, 15th day of the month). The gathering took place on the first day of the month, on which the Feast of Trumpets was celebrated. The leaders called together the men and women of the nation for this special assembly in order, through the reading of the Law, to provide an opportunity for them to learn about their God and history.
The people invited Ezra to bring the book of the Law of Moses before them and to read it. They even constructed a platform, a pulpit, for the occasion. It was not something that the leaders forced on the congregation. On the contrary, “they”, the people, told Ezra to bring the Book. Most likely Ezra read to the people from the books of Moses, which included the law given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Read Deuteronomy 31:9-13. What did the Lord tell them there, and what lessons can we take from that for ourselves?
In Deuteronomy 31:9-13, Moses told the Israelites that, during the Feast of Tabernacles, they were to gather and read together the Law of God, and it mentions the various groups that should gather: men, women, children, and foreigners living within their gates.
| A literal reading of Nehemiah 8:1 says that they gathered together “as one man”. What does that tell us about the importance of unity among the body of believers? |
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The reading of the Torah is not a simple Bible study. In the case of Nehemiah it was a nation-building event.
Just to give you a bit of a picture: A Torah scroll (Sefer Torah) weighs between 25-30 pounds (up to 15Kg) and is written or parchment (kosher animal skin) be a special scribe called a sofer. There are about 4000 rules for writing a Sefer Torah and a sofer must know them all. it takes about 12-18months to create a copy of the Sefer Torah. To have one made today costs between $10,000 to $30,000.
There are 304,805 letters in a Torah Scroll and it is written in columns with usually 42 lines in each column. The Torah is kept in a special cupboard or ark and often has a curtain in front of it.
The period of the Babylonian captivity is regarded as pivotal to the development of the Sefer Torah. It must be remembered that many of the exiled Jews were academics and government officials. The common people were left behind in Palestine. The Babylonian captivity period was a time when some effort was put into preserving the sacred heritage of Israel by the captive Jews. It is no surprise that Nehemiah, on reestablishing the city of Jerusalem and the Temple introduced the reading of the Torah. It would have been a defining nation-building moment at the commencement of the post-exilic nation.
The reading was essentially a chant or cantillation that is still practiced today by orthodox Jews. The Torah is read 4 times a week, with special readings for specific occasions. The whole Torah is read in one year.
Great information, ‘‘tis!
Jesus read the scrolls when he was a young man. He was directed to bring the scrolls from Isaiah I believe. After reading he was directed to return the scrolls and sat down.
I hope my memory is somewhat accurate.
They told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law: This demonstrates that the Spirit of God was at work even before the reading of God’s Word. People do not gather together as one man for the things of God unless the Spirit of God has moved them, and they do not desire God’s Word unless the Spirit of God has moved them.
If you attend to the hearing of the Word of God, it is evidence the Spirit of God is working with you. But it is still important to cooperating with that work and to not resist it.
The book of the Law of Moses: This refers to the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). This was Israel’s instruction manual for how to walk before God.
Ezra was the man responsible for having the temple rebuilt, and for returning God’s people to worship. Nehemiah, in all his work of rebuilding the walls, just carried on the work Ezra had begun.
1 Corinthians 3
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow
In the work of God there is no boosting of one's work is greater than the other.
All who could hear with understanding: This shows us who needed to hear the Word of God. Everyone who could understand it needed to hear it.
Proverbs 22:6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
In that time there was no separation between church and state, there was only the Law of God. However many were not obeying the Law so the reading of the Law reminded everyone how the LORD wanted them to live.
What many these days don't realize is how many times the word 'love' is used in the book of Deuteronomy. And that Jesus was quoting from The Law when He said Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and body.
As I like to remind myself God's Laws were His Principles of Life for living a harmonious and happy life, if only one allowed Him to create within us a new heart in His image!
Sabbath's lesson brings out the criteria for leadership in Israel in those days, integrity, trustworthiness and reverence for God. I believe that these were the same standards used in the church in choosing officers for service at all levels, but I am afraid that it is not necessarily the case presently.
@Renrick Hall.. @present worldliness has crippled the Church of God and for someone to attain a post he/she must be considered rich in earthly materials like cars n houses of which Spirituality and things of this world dont fit in one side... Even one who is breaking openly the decalogue, his or her possessions helps him to attain a post even year after year consecutively.
Tendai Mawunde, your comment is a generalisation and we should be careful not to denigrate the many fine men and women who serve the Church faithfully and sacrificially. There are those who abuse their power and position but in my experience, most of the church administrators I have had to deal with over the years have been gracious, selfless, and humble.
Alright Maurice, I stand to be corrected and thank you!
@ Tendai - I am afraid I have to agree with you to a great extent - it is blatant. A few years ago I formulated a methodology that would be fair and in tandem with those qualities that were shown in the SS lesson. I am yet to put it forward to the GC, but I must.
Can't agree with you more. We no longer consider the basic requirements to elect Church officials.
Having been on nominating and employment committees I have to disagree with you Peter. I am not saying that there are not issues, but in the areas where I have been involved I have been happy that basic requirements are a criteria for electing church officials and employees. I recognise that sometimes we get some things wrong at times and I know of cases where the bona fides of individuals have not been as throughly checked as they should have been. Appointment, election, and employment is a complex business now-a-days. Even volunteering comes with a heavy burden of cross checking. I was asked to take a school class for a bird observation walk and had to apply for a "Working With Children Clearance certification before I could do it. We should all recognise that "due diligence" is necessary and ensure that it is done.
If you feel that in your area the basic requirements are not being considered in your church then there are appropriate procedures for addressing these issues.
Guide me o thou great One. How excellent is thy name in all the earth.
The reading for today Sunday was great. The leaders called an outdoor assembly, both men, women and children attended (those who were able to understand). It was in the 7th month (our October). The people stood from Morning until mid-day to hear about the Lord, sounds like they were very enthusiastic. At pray time they lifted their hands, bowed their heads and said Amen.
We are told in the Bible “the Church” is not a denomination but it is a people who love the Lord and love others.
The only criteria for heaven is to Love the Lord with all my heart, soul, strength and might, and my neighbors as my self.
If I truly love my creator I will do what he asked me to do from Genesis to Revelation. I will live the word, love to see men get save, love them like myself and will be enthusiastic about telling them about him.
Sometimes people allow the pendulum to swing to the far right or to the far left.
The worship of Ezra and Nehemiah is my style. The worship that heaven adores. The Amens and lifting up the hands and bowing the head.
In Some of our churches people can’t say loud Amens, neither lift up theirs hands, stand and clap their hands, neither slightly sway. How would some people fit into the period when David dance before the Lord. To some whether you are in church or out, no form of praise nor worship should comes from others lips.
The Lord knows his sheep and they will follow him.
Heaven is a place of rejoicing and noise, Read Revelation.
John saw the people who were save. He said in Rev 15 . Those who had gotten the victory over the beast, his image, his mark, and the number of his name. Many things we fight against/ for is not criteria for heaven.