55-Days Devotional Journey - Day 43
July 13, 2025 (Sunday)

Scripture:
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. 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. 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. And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 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. 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. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. Nehemiah 8:1-8 (ESV)

Reflection:
In the Jewish calendar, the first day of the seventh month is the Feast of Trumpets, a day when all Jews put down their work and remember that Jehovah God created the heavens and the earth for them and made an everlasting covenant. However, the book of Nehemiah records that the Israelites took the initiative to gather and listen to God's book of law in front of the Water Gate "as one person".

When Ezra began to praise Jehovah, the people raised their hands and bowed their heads to the ground to worship Jehovah. This enthusiasm and excitement for God is not based on feelings or atmosphere, but on people's desire to hear God's words. From early morning to noon, they stood, listened attentively, and shared God's words with each other so that everyone could clearly understand the meaning.

If we all agree that God's words are worth our desire and pursuit, we hope that we will not only listen to more sermons, read more scriptures, and do more spiritual exercises to let God's words fill us, but we will take the initiative to gather together and share with each other the reflections and understandings that God's words bring us today.

God's words are not spread simply through the teachings of scribes and priests, but everyone spreads God's words with their own mouths with a respectful heart, so that everyone can clearly understand the meaning of the Book of the Law and understand God's will for each of us.

Reflection Question:
In our lives, do we take the initiative to discuss with our brothers and sisters what God's words mean to us today? Are we willing to thirst for God's words like the Israelites did at that time?

Prayer:
May God once again ignite our love for the Bible. Not only do we pursue and long for your words, but we will also be given the courage to share our understanding with our brothers and sisters, so that we can constantly update and break through our understanding of you.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.

By Pastor Edmond Chung