The Feast is the Point — Andrew Forrest

Nehemiah—feeling prompted from the Lord—has gathered the people for a census.

While they are all gathered, Ezra—who is a priest and a scribe, and who hasn’t yet appeared in Nehemiah’s memoir—stands up on the platform and begins to read from “the Law”, i.e., the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis-Deuteronomy. (He’s probably reading Deuteronomy.)

While he reads, some of the other priests make their way around the crowd and explain the scripture to the people:

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. [Nehemiah 8:5-8]

In other words, it’s not just you who needs help understanding the Bible—so did the ancient Jews! The Bible requires learning to fully appreciate, just like everything else in life.

And then an extraordinary thing happens. The people, whose ancestors had ignored the Law and so had eventually been conquered by the Babylonians, these same people start to weep with guilt at their sins and rebellion against the Lord! In Christian language, we’d say that a spiritual revival started as Ezra read from the Law.

And it all began with Nehemiah following the Lord’s prompting to assemble the people for a census.

It is good for God’s people to feel guilt at our sins, but it is not good for us to remain in a state of despair, because the Lord offers forgiveness to us. So, as the people are weeping over their sins, Nehemiah goes around and tells them that JOY is where the Lord wants to leave them.

The same is true for us. The goal is always joy. Confession of sin—thanks be to God—is a means to an end.

Or, as Nehemiah so memorably puts is:

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

I hope you can feast today.

Today’s Nehemiah Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-12.