Good morning,
The Bible is God’s principles on how to live successfully. Prior to the Babylonian captivity, Israel had forsaken their God and His revealed revelation, the Book of the Law of Moses. Then a copy was found and read to the people.
“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” (Nehemiah 8:1-3)
The people were thirsty for God’s word. They stood for the reading of God’s word. They worshipped God, the Levites explained its meaning, and the people understood.
“And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.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 up:6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:4-8)
The law of Moses commanded that the children of Israel dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month. They obeyed the command.
“And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.” (Nehemiah 8:14-15)
God wants us to read His word, be blessed by it, worship God, and then obey. This is God’s recipe for success in the Christian life. God has revealed His will to all mankind through His word. From the creation of this world, to its ultimate destruction through fire, God has shown us His plan.
Is His plan your plan? If not, please write or call me and maybe we can settle this issue for you.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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