Hearing God’s Word – the Beginning of Spiritual Renewal

Nehemiah 8:9

Hearing God’s Word is a blessing for all people. Yet we are not to be deceived for according to James 1:22 we are to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”  The Babylonian captives were allowed to return to homeland after seventy years in exile. They rebuilt the Temple for worship, and the walls of the city for protection, but their souls were in need of spiritual repair. They needed God’s Word to replenish their souls. So on the first day of the seventh month, as the Lord had commanded in the book of the Law, they gathered in the city of Jerusalem for a holy convocation (Ezra 3:1); it was a day of blowing the trumpets (Numbers 29:1). Ezra and others read and taught them the Word of God with understanding. The time comes when we must realize that we need His Word to build us up. Today we have an advantage over the Israelites; we have options for hearing the Word of God. Not only does the pastor read it aloud, but there are worship leaders that are appointed to read the Word aloud during service, and others that are appointed as readers during Bible study, church school, and etc. Also we can listen to the scripture being read aloud by audio on our electronic devices: phones, radio, televisions, CD’s, computers, and on social media such as face book, and etc.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, 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 nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law (v.9). Yes, they were convicted by God’s Word; they saw how sinful and disobedient they had been to Him and started crying. It’s good for us to see ourselves in God’s Word and be sorry about how we have mistreated Him when all He’s done is been good to us. Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites, however, commanded the people not to mourn nor weep because “This day is holy to the Lord your God.” Give Him glory for all He has done.