Nehemiah 9:1-3
“Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the sons of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with dirt upon them. The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the wrong doings of their fathers. While they stood in their place, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.”
The people had experienced the weeklong time of the Feast of Booths. The initial shock of hearing the Word of God compared to their behavior happened on day one. The priests told them not to be sad, but to celebrate the Feast. This was referring to God delivering the people from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. The Festival finished, but God had their attention. Hearing God’s Word showed the contrast in what it said compared to their behavior.
God’s Word is more than a book about God and the history of His people. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” It reminds me of Jack’s magic beans, but in our hearts.
In Matthew 13 Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower which gives a great explanation of God’s Word and our hearts. As we hear His Word, it’s planted in our hearts. It springs to life. If our hearts are right, then we respond to God. We get convicted by our sin and we do what His Word says. We confess our sins as in today’s passage.
The New Testament tells us to accept the forgiveness Jesus’ sacrifice purchased and become born again. God gives us a new heart and He becomes our Father. Reading His Word, going to church, associating with christians and telling others about God’s Good News is what we do.
We have a new life. It’s the one that was meant to be from creation. We’re in Eden again. Some call it our walk with God. God did so with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Enoch walked with God also. So do we.
Reading His Word and walking in obedience becomes what we do. Our new heart craves to do the things the bible does. He gives us gratitude and joy. Church worship is wonderful as it’s practice for when we in God’s throne in heaven.
We are grateful for Him delivering us from sin and putting us on a good path. He created each of us with gifts and talents. He directs us in life and allows us to exercise those gifts in helping others. We share God’s Word with them and they also come to Christ and begin their lives in Him. If they are already believers, then we encourage them in their faith.
This is God reaching out to people attempting to rescue them. Some respond, some don’t. Hebrews 3:15 says, ‘As it has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.”’
Romans 1:21 describes what happens when we ignore His Word and His promptings, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened.” Their thinking and judgement gets off. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 puts it this way, “For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie”. This is referring to the end times. However, in a smaller way when we ignore His Word our thinking gets off.
Many in our culture have a busted internal compass. The true reading is in God and His Word. Many oppose it. Intolerance has grown as well as a strong resistance to His Word is common. We do a delicate walk in terms of what we share. To some sharing God’s Word would be casting pearls before swine. We aren’t to do it. We grow in wisdom, which includes reading people to see who’s ready to hear.
Lord, thank You for Your Word and Your way. Help us to walk in it. Help us to stay in Your Word and live accordingly.