Glad to Understand

Nehemiah 8 is a chapter which illustrates very well the personal impact of how understanding God's word impacts people who are united to seek Him.  Reading God's word is not like a chemical reaction which is predictable, for at times we are not receptive to hear or take action on what God has said and is saying to us.  In the children of Israel we see a good example of people who gathered together to build the walls of Jerusalem and sought to obey the LORD who protected, provided and made their efforts fruitful.

Ezra the scribe and Nehemiah gathered the people together with the elders to read the Law of Moses and explain it to the people so they could understand it.  Hearing God's word had a profound affect on the people, for they realised they and their fathers had sinned against the LORD and they wept.  Their minds, hearts and souls were moved by the word of God and felt sorrow and remorse.  Nehemiah 8:11-12 says, "So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹² And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them."

The Law of Moses that made a distinction between righteous and sinful conduct also taught concerning holy days.  Whilst the conduct of the people previously had been wrong, instead of mourning they were to rejoice.  The people obeyed God's word to feast, send portions and rejoice greatly because "they understood the words that were declared to them."  See how understanding what God said filled His people with joy!  They delighted to hear and obey the word spoken to them by God, and we ought to be the same.  Reading God's word should not be relegated to a duty or chore because He has given us an invitation and opportunity to understand Him.  Do you rejoice, believer, that you understand the word God has declared to you?

Understanding God's word leads to exciting discovery and personal revival.  As they read the scripture the people realised God had commanded the people to make tabernacles and dwell in them, something they had not done even before the captivity of Israel in Babylon.  The people send out messengers to proclaim they were going to gather according to the word of the LORD, and Nehemiah 8:17 reads:  "So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness."  Isn't that amazing?  King Saul, king David and king Solomon had reigned over all Israel and even in their day there had never been such a gathering since the days of Joshua when the nation of Israel was in its infancy.  You see, in the days of Nehemiah when there was no king anointed to rule God once again was their KING and they delighted to hear, understand and obey His word with gladness.

Jesus Christ is the KING OF KINGS, and how blessed we are to hear and understand Him through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  When we read God's word it ought to have a similar impact on us:  we ought to mourn our sin, rejoice to obey the LORD, be glad to understand God's word, be moved to walk in obedience to what God reveals and experience the joy of the LORD that is our strength.  The words we read in the Bible are more than words on a page but the word of God we can understand.  It is a world of discovery about God and His ways that excites our minds, hearts and souls to draw near to Him and proclaim His goodness with gladness.