Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 They read from the book of the law and they understood what was read.

 2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.  3  And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.  4  And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose; 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.  6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands; The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

 2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.

 3  And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men

and the

women and

those who

could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

 4  And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose;

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.

 6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands;

 and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 8  And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9  And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.  10  Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

 and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

8  And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9  And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and

Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 

10  Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Nehemiah was a person God put in charge of a seemingly impossible task. God shapes all of us with personality characteristics, life experiences, and vocational trainings for a particular purpose. Nehemiah was placed in a unique position as the cupbearer to the Persian king. A cupbearer’s job was to take a sip from any liquid that was presented to the king. The theory was that if the drink were poisoned the cupbearer would die but not the king. As you would imagine Nehemiah had little power and certainly no importance other than he was willing to risk his life, on a daily basis, for the king.

Nehemiah was a person God put in charge of a seemingly impossible task.

God shapes all of us with personality characteristics, life experiences, and vocational trainings for a particular purpose.

Nehemiah was placed in a unique position as the

cupbearer to

the Persian

king.

A cupbearer’s job was to take a sip from any liquid that was presented to the king.

The theory was that if the drink were poisoned the cupbearer would die but not the king.

As you would imagine Nehemiah had little power and certainly no importance other than he was willing to risk his life, on a daily basis, for the king.

He did have influence with and was trusted by the king. He was a man of God and concerned with the fate of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, Ezra the priest saw to the spiritual needs of the community but Jerusalem lacked one of the most important forms of protection, a city wall. Without a wall to protect the city the inhabitants were vulnerable to another attack and a repetition of its previous destruction. God’s mission for Nehemiah would be to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its wall. Nehemiah had been shaped into a leader, motivator and spiritual leader among the people of Judah.

He did have influence with and was trusted by the king.

He was a man of God and concerned with the fate of Jerusalem.

The city of Jerusalem had been rebuilt, Ezra the priest saw to the spiritual needs of the community but Jerusalem lacked one of the most important

forms of

protection, a

city wall.

Without a wall to protect the city the inhabitants were vulnerable to another attack and a repetition of its previous destruction.

God’s mission for Nehemiah would be to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its wall.

Nehemiah had been shaped into a leader, motivator and spiritual leader among the people of Judah.

Today Ezra reads from the book of the law. The people’s reaction was rather emotional. The lifted up their hands to heaven, and shouted Amen, Amen, meaning their agreement with the word of God. They then fell to their knees and worshiped God. Ezra and the Levites spoke to a crowd of 30 – 50,000. What the people heard caused them to want to follow God’s word. They had learned to pray with the scripture.

Today Ezra reads from the book of the law.

The people’s reaction was rather emotional.

The lifted up their hands to heaven, and shouted Amen, Amen, meaning their agreement with the word of God.

They then fell to their knees and worshiped God.

Ezra and the

Levites spoke

to a crowd of

30 – 50,000.

What the people heard caused them to want to follow God’s word.

They had learned to pray with the scripture.

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