Scripture reading for August 11: Nehemiah 8:9-12 “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. 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.” So the Levites calmed the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 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.””
As we walk through Scripture looking for directions and instruction on healing, we come to an interesting passage in Nehemiah, the governor of the Jews who returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. The Law of God had been left undeclared for many years and Ezra the priest restored its reading as the Israelites gathered to celebrate the feast of Booths. That feast had each family constructing a temporary dwelling or tent and living like the Israelites of old traveling through the wilderness to the promised land. On the first day they all gathered before the Water Gate and Ezra read from early morning to noon. The people fell under conviction and began to grieve and weep over exposed sin from the reading. Other priests and scribes explained the law to the people. Ezra blessed the Lord and the people bowed in worship, faces to the ground!
Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra the priests and the Levites declared the day ‘Holy’ to the Lord and commanded the people not to grieve or weep, but instead to celebrate a feast of joy before the Lord. God’s grace had brought healing and restoration and in His joy they would find new strength to rebuild and worship Him!
Jesus Christ, our High Priest, has perfectly lived the Law of God and is His Word, made flesh. As we listen to His Word, we can understand through the Holy Spirit living in us. Jesus declared that His joy would be in us and in that joy we would ask and find rest and strength! Amen! (John 16:24)
December 30, 2017
Dear fellow Bible readers,
Thank you for joining me during this past years journey through the entire Bible. We read on a 5 day per week rotation of about 4 chapters each day. In each reading, I wrote a short devotion on verses from that day’s reading that brought to mind something to rejoice about or be thankful for. I tied each verse in the Old Testament with a counter-part in the New and vice-versa. I never ran out! This helped me to stay positive and keep a thankful heart in a world saturated with negativity and fear. I pray that you were encouraged with the overflow!
In 2018, we will begin another journey (my tenth year of writing) through the entire Bible with an emphasis on prayer and walking with God. Jesus encouraged His followers to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7-8) Paul taught , “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24) We will embark on this Bible Trek beginning Monday, January 1st reading 5 days each week with 3-4 Old Testament chapters and one chapter from the New Testament each day. My goal is to inspire prayer and faith that we might walk closely with our Lord each day. In His Love, Pastor John Morse