Nehemiah 8 - Hungry For the Word
- Joshua Carpenter
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
How hungry are you for the Word of God?
SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Nehemiah heard of Jerusalem’s broken walls and mourned, fasted, and prayed before the LORD. God then opened the door for him to ask King Artaxerxes for permission, protection, and supplies to rebuild the city.
Despite opposition, mockery, threats, and internal injustice among the people, Nehemiah led with prayer, courage, organization, and reform. The wall was finished, the people were registered, and all Israel gathered as one in Jerusalem to hear the Book of the Law.
Nehemiah 8:1–12 (ESV)
8 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, 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 platform that 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 as 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. 7 ...the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 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 as 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 anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Heidelberg Catechism
Q&A 65
Q. It is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his blessings: where then does that faith come from?
A. The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts
by the preaching of the holy gospel,
and confirms it
through our use of the holy sacraments.
Summary
After completing the work of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, and as the people stand on the brink of celebrating a number of festivals prescribed by the Lord, they all gather together in Jerusalem and ask for something, not of Nehemiah, but of Ezra. Returning on the scene, Ezra is asked to bring out “the Book of the Law of Moses.”
Notice that the people initiated this! Ezra, of course, is more than happy to do so. He brings it out and begins reading it to the people from early morning until midday. Not only is it read to the people, but God’s Word is also expounded - that is, taught to the people by the Levites!
As all of this is done for probably about six or so hours, like the people hearing Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, the Israelites assembled there are cut to the heart, for we find the people weeping as they heard the words of the law. We’re not told what parts were exactly read, but through the reading and exposition of God’s Word, the people were reminded of their sin, and were convicted of it.
Even so, Nehemiah encourages the people not to weep, but to have joy, to celebrate, for the joy of the LORD is your strength! Indeed, because of the LORD’s great grace, mercy, and forgiveness of sins, both they and we have much to be joyful over!
Dig Deeper
At various points in our lives, we know the pangs of hunger acutely, whether it’s when we forget our lunch at home, or when we smell a delicious roast in the oven throughout the day, making us hungrier by the minute. Maybe it’s after a long day’s work, or a really intense sports practice, and we come to the supper table famished.
Something for us to ponder, though, is how hungry are we for God’s Word? Are we satisfied with mere morsels here and there, or are we constantly wanting more of the Bible, and not just the parts we like, but the parts that are hard to hear too? We see the people of Israel in our passage today hungry for God’s Word; they can’t get enough of it, even after six or so hours of hearing it read and expounded. They take it all in, including the parts that lead them to weep over their sin.
It’s important for us to reflect on our own attitude towards God’s Word, for His Word is the Truth we need over against all the lies we hear from our world and culture. His Word is nourishment for our souls; it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path in the midst of this world darkened by sin (Psalm 119:105).
You need to cherish, hunger and thirst after God’s Word day by day, looking forward to immersing yourself in it throughout the week and looking forward to hearing it proclaimed on Sundays from the pulpit! Be hungry for the Word of the Lord, so that you grow in your love for Him more and more each day as you learn more about Him and all that He has done for you in Jesus Christ!
The only thing left to ask, then, is - who’s hungry?
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you'll be a good servant of the LORD who delights to fear His name;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
