God’s Law Reaffirmed

MEMORY VERSE: “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” —Psalm 119:34

NEHEMIAH 8:1-3, 8-12

WITH the work of rebuilding the temple completed, and the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt, it was due time to give fuller attention to the Word and law of God than had been possible while captive in Babylon. Today’s lesson records the efforts of Ezra and Nehemiah along this line. There were approximately fifty thousand Israelites now in Judea, the majority of them having returned there from their exile in Babylon.

It is safe to assume that the vast majority of these could not read; hence the only way they could be made acquainted with the law of God was for it to be read to them. So at the time appointed “all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.”

This was on the first day of the seventh month, and Ezra “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.” This was an impressive occasion. We read that “Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose.” This elevated him somewhat above the congregation, enabling the people to see as well as to hear. When he opened the book in the sight of all the people, they stood up. “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 worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”—Neh. 8:4-6

Verse 8 of the lesson reads, “So they read in the Book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Here is an important consideration in our study of the Bible today as well as at all times in the past. Merely to read the Bible results in a certain amount of blessing, but the real joy to be derived from God’s Word is in a proper understanding of what we read. Ezra and the Levites assisting him, made sure that the vast congregation to which they read did understand, for they “gave the sense.”

Our memory verse gives a similar thought—“Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” The more clearly we understand God’s Word and law, the greater the influence they will have in our lives. For his people of the present age the Lord has made abundant provision for them to understand. Paul wrote:

“He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ.”—Eph. 4:11-15

It is a mistaken notion that God wants his people to be in ignorance of the meaning of his Word. Many among the nominal people of God make the excuse for their lack of knowledge that the Bible is a sealed book which we are not supposed to understand (Isa. 29:11,12); or at any rate only those who are specially trained in the secrets of God can understand it.

But this is false reasoning. The Lord wants us, through the help we receive from his servants, and from one another, to become acquainted with his plans and purposes. It is this understanding that inspires us with the desire to serve him, yea, to lay down our lives in his service. Through his Word, God reveals the great attributes of his character—his wisdom, his justice, his love, and his power. These, combined, are the glory of God, and a knowledge of his glory draws us near to him, and it becomes our great desire to be obedient to his will.—Ps. 19:7,8

QUESTIONS

Describe the circumstances under which the returned exiles of Israel had God’s law read to them.

Why is it important that we understand the Word of God as well as read it?

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