God’s Truth for Trying Times - 6/8/20

We need God’s truth in trying times. Read the Scripture passage, think about what it is saying, then pray; by yourself or with your household. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16).

READ: Nehemiah 8:1-8

“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. 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)

CONSIDER: God's people gather to hear the Word of God, at the end of exile. This is what God's people do: we gather together to hear the Word of God. Every Christian belongs to Christ to worship Christ. We do this in local assemblies. Notice in this passage that after the Word of God was read it was explained so people understood. This is what we do, we read it, we explain it, we apply it. Be a doer of the Word today.

THINK: What does this declare about God? What are God’s people being called to do? What assurance is given? How does the Word of God transform our hearts and lives and relationships?

PRAY:‬‬ Pray these verses to God as a prayer. Pour out your heart in praise to God. Pray for others. Present needs to Him.