Title: Love That Motivates / Topic: Conviction

Today’s Reading: Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-12
1 all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 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. 6 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.
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 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.

Observation: I notice the great emotion of these people as they gather to be instructed in the word of God. They have just completed the monumental task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem against great opposition. This amazing feat has drawn them closer together and closer to God. Now they gather to hear the scrolls read and to be instructed. Note that they stand in reverence as the scrolls are opened, then they bow with faces to the ground. As the law is read to them (which takes many hours "from daybreak until noon"), they weep and mourn. Why? Because what they heard demonstrated God's loving ways toward them -- ways that they had not known -- ways that they and their parents and grandparents had not respected nor followed. Once they were calmed and comforted, they received the further explanation and instruction and the result is great joy and a weeklong celebration follows (see the rest of the chapter).

Application: I would like to see more deep emotion in myself and others in church. I wish that we could be moved to tears in the hearing of the word of God. A more common emotion in church is boredom born of apathy.

Prayer: Lord, help us to experience the deep pathos that these people felt. Lord, we are way too casual about the things of God -- Your word, Your will, Your ways -- and that needs to change. Help us to know You better -- to see You more clearly, love You more dearly, follow You more nearly -- day by day. Help us to truly give You our all.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.