TODAY IN THE WORD
In the movie Chariots of Fire, Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell was asked to run a race scheduled for a Sunday. This would have been a violation of his Christian convictions and he refused, even though he was under tremendous pressure as a representative of his country in the 1924 Olympics. But what mattered most to Liddell was God’s approval. He ran, as he said, because God made him fast. “When I run, I feel His pleasure.” How could he dishonor God by working on the day set aside to worship the Lord?

The joy of the Lord was Eric Liddell’s strength, empowering him to stand firm in his convictions. The same faith and joy empowered Nehemiah in today’s reading. Under his leadership, Israelites had returned from Babylon and completed rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. To honor the occasion, the leaders organized a public reading of Scripture. Ezra the priest stood on an elevated wooden platform, not unlike a pulpit in that it helped with visibility and audibility. The people stood for the reading of God’s Word, a custom still practiced in some synagogues and churches today. The reading was no mere formality, but a time of teaching and instruction. In the absence of multimedia technology, Levites scattered throughout the crowd, “making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (vv. 7-8).

Though it was a joyful occasion, the people wept. Why? Because the Word showed them their sinfulness. They grieved at how they had grieved the Lord. Though the time for repentance would come (Nehemiah 9), on this day the leaders commanded the people to cease weeping and celebrate instead. God had brought them home from exile! The walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt! They were to rejoice in God’s presence, His many blessings, and this day of sacred national worship (v. 12). Their celebration developed into the rediscovered Feast of Booths (vv. 13-18). How they rejoiced to be able to put God’s commands into practice!

---

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The body language in today’s reading maybe caught your attention. People stood up to show respect for the Law. They lifted their hands. They said, “Amen.” They bowed down with their faces to the ground. They said with verbal and nonverbal language what their hearts were feeling. We are familiar with actions such as bowing our heads, kneeling to pray, and clapping for joy. In your times of worship, how does your body language say what your heart is feeling? God is glorified by our full-body responses to His Word and work.

< Previous Day

Next Day >