Devotionals

---

8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. Neh8:9-12

God’s word, when understood, convicts but also liberates.
As we can see from this passage, there was a need to go back to basics after the return of the exiles from captivity. They had been so estranged and divorced from the word of God that they were famished. Ezra, Nehemiah, the levites and other elders had to take the lead in convening a holy convocation and reminding the people of their first estate.
From morning to noon he read the word of God to their hearing- making sense, expounding it to ensure they understood it. And when he finished, they were sober from conviction.
He also led them into worship, blessing the Lord while as they responded by lifting up their hands and bowing down to Him.
They commemorated their return with this Feast of Trumpets, encouraging the people that the Joy of the Lord was their strength. They were to go out from that place with joy, not mourning. God had been so good to them, spared their lives, brought them back, enabled them to hear His word again and that called for thanksgiving and jubilation.

They were also to show their gratitude by being generous.

Today we are different translations of the word of God and we often take it for granted. We forget that there are places where the Word of God is a taboo. We too need to be joyful for the word of God which we hear again and again. We need to hear it reverently and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us and convict us of sin. ‘And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free’John8:32
As we are liberated, we need not only to rejoice but praise and worship like they did and go about doing good to show our appreciation to God, for the privilege to be counted among the redeemed –of- the- Lord.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE