NOTES for Neh 8:2-10
2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. |
3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. |
4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. |
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: |
6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. |
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. |
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. |
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. |
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. |
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As the people listened to the words of the Law, they wept; once they understood it, they went to celebrate with great joy. Here is the paradox of the Bible for everyone who reads it and tries to understand. We read terrible prophecies and see their fulfillment. We learn the signs of the end times and are horrified by what may await us. But the Word does not bring us horror or fear. In any situation the main thing for us is to understand the Word, to understand what God is saying to us today and now. Because every word of His is not about how bad things are for us now, not about how bad things will be for us, not about what sufferings will fall upon us along the way. It is about the fact that what is most important in Him is joy in the Resurrection, in mercy, and in Love. We keep saying to Him: let me bury, let me say farewell, wait just one more minute, and we will catch up. But He says to us: do not look back, do not fear the unknown, do not weep over the past; there is still too much work ahead.
Readings for 26 January 2025
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