“Respecting the Word of God”

BIBLE READING: Nehemiah 8-10

                 The exiles that had returned must have been ecstatic by their ability to complete the walls of Jerusalem in only fifty-two days.   The Bible says that they were able to do that because they had a “mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).  There seems to be somewhat of the same feelings and emotions that would later be present in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost and the establishment of the church.  They all seem to be on the same page and were willing to share and make contributions to the work in Nehemiah 7.66-73.  It also seems that they were not just interested in the physical aspects of completing the walls of the Jerusalem, but also in the spiritual aspects as we begin to read in Nehemiah 8.  All the people gather together into the square of the city near the Water Gate and they ask Ezra the scribe to read from the Law of Moses.   Ezra read the words of the Law of God given to Moses from morning till midday.  As he read, the text reveals that “all the people were attentive to the book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8.3).  Yet it doesn’t stop there; when he opened the book out of respect for the Word the people stood up (Nehemiah 8.5).  Then when the reading was finished, all the people shouted “Amen, Amen! While lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (Nehemiah 8.6).  As a minister, I find it so refreshing to see just how much the people respected the message that God had for them.  Today, do we share that same respect?  It almost seems that we struggle with being attentive to the reading of the Word of God at worship, much less in our personal study.  One might argue and say, “Well they were just extremely grateful and were having withdrawal from the Word due to their captivity.”  That may in fact be true, but the words we have from the Word of God are so much more important to us today because Jesus is much greater than Moses (Hebrews 3.1-6); not to mention that these words are words that will lead to eternal life, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12).  Doesn’t it seem that we should pay a little more attention to Gods message for us today?  I pray that we all develop a greater appreciation and respect for the Word of God.