Ezra opened the book.
All the people could see him because
he was standing above them;
and as he opened it, the people all stood up.
Nehemiah 8:5
Don’t you just love this visual of God’s people standing spontaneously and reverently to honor the Word of God?
Standing helped their hearts and minds focus intently. Their choice to stand communicated their awe for the Word and their readiness to drink deep from the living water flowing forth from it. They were thirsty! They were eager! The posture of their bodies reflected the posture of their hearts.
This verse has prompted me to ask those listening to stand as I read the Word aloud before teaching. Oh, that believers of today would be just as thirsty as those listening to Ezra on that day!
Now look at what happened next:
Ezra praised the LORD, the great God,
and all the people lifted their hands and responded,
“Amen! Amen!”
Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD
with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 8:6
The peopled joined with Ezra in giving God praise for His Word. Their “Amen!” conveys agreement; another translation might be, “So be it!” And note their posture in worship: they bowed down. God’s Word humbles us. We see who God is, and what God requires, and we realize we are lacking. We worship Him because He loves us … in spite of us!
The proper response to the Word of God was — and still is — PRAISE!
As you and I read the Word, may we respond likewise:
- Eagerness to receive it
- Reverence when we hear it
- Humility as it convicts us
- Worship to God who gives it
- Agreement with it – and choosing to live it
God’s Word both deserves and demands a response. Whether or not we stand physically, is the posture of our heart eagerness and reverence?
Whether or not we bow down physically, are we humbled spiritually?
Does God’s Word draw us to worship – to glorify Him as we hear it?
And finally, do we agree with God? Does our “Amen!” truly mean “so be it”?
Are you ready to listen and respond, to worship and bow down, to hear and obey, as you acknowledge God’s Word with joyful praise and a heart of surrendered obedience?
May the Spirit of God take the Word of God and stir up praise to God from the people of God!
In the sixth chapter of the book of Nehemiah, the work on rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem continues, but so does the opposition. In this week’s lesson from Laura’s Bible study, we learned that the enemies of God’s people resorted to deception — to trickery and treachery — in their attempts to stop the work. But Nehemiah remained steadfast. He focused on his assignment from the Lord and the walls were completed.
As believers, you and I may be targets of the enemy’s lies, as well. We invite you to listen and learn from this week’s teaching lecture, with hope and prayer that God equips you with wisdom to discern truth and reject falsehoods as you seek to follow Him in your life.
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