Remembrance in Word & Deed (4/3/23)

Image by Venita Oberholster from Pixabay

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Read: Nehemiah 8 (AMP)

Biblical Lesson…

According to Ecclesiastes 1:9, "That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun."

What Nehemiah, Ezra and the returned Israelite captives had dealt with and were doing was eerily similar to that which occurred with Moses and Joshua. As Moses commanded (Deuteronomy 31:9-13) and Joshua implemented (Joshua 8:30-34),

Ezra obeyed the instruction to read the Law to the Israelites with the Levites to help to interpret it.  Such reading of the Law in Nehemiah's time was bittersweet.  Though the time was celebratory with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, from listening to the Law and a greater revelation and understanding provided by the Levites, much sorrow was felt by the people by them recognizing what went wrong. Yet, they were reminded that the day was holy and meant to be one of joy in God keeping his promise of restoring them to Jerusalem and relationship with the Lord.  Restoration to the reading, hearing, understanding and obeying the Laws of the Lord represented the healing of Israel's relationship to God.

Today's Version…

How does this look for God's people today? Do you read the Bible? Are you in the Word each and every day? Do you see the goodness of God in your life? Have you ever tried the audio Bible?  What do you understand about the Law? How does it look in your home, the church, work, media? Is everything really relative? Are we repeating history?

What to do…

It's time for a deep dive with challenges this week:

1. Listen to a hard to read book of the Bible through any version of an audio Bible.

2. Journal and answer the questions above; and

3. Read Ecclesiastes in its entirety and ponder its relevance in your life and society as a whole.