“Ezra
read from the Law before in square which was in front of the Water Gate from
early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could
understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.” (v.3)
When the people of Israel came back from exile in Babylon, their
spiritual appetite was weak. They had departed from God and His ways. To get
the people back to spiritual health, Nehemiah organized a reading of the law,
and Ezra the priest was the teacher.
Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses from morning until
midday, feeding the people with the truth of God. And the people listened attentively.
In fact, their appetite for God’s Word was so stirred that the family leaders
and the priests and Levites met with Ezra the following day to study the law in
greater detail because they wanted to understand it (v.13).
Today it is so easy to get distracted or become so busy that we
neglect our own spiritual nourishment. This can leave us feeling estranged from
God or spiritually weak, hungry for the “pure milk of the Word.” The solution
is to simply ask Him to give us a renewed desire for His Word, and begin
feeding our hearts and minds with it.
Therefore, feed regularly on God’s Word, for it will help keep you strong and
healthy in the Lord.
The Truth: But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew
4:4)
