THE READING AND EXPLAINING OF THE LAW (NEHEMIAH 8:1). The first stage of covenant renewal was the reading and explaining of the Law. Such reading and explaining of a section of the Law may well have taken place in their synagogues in Babylon each Sabbath, but here it was to be far more detailed. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW OF MOSES IS READ AND EXPLAINED AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE FEASTS OF THE SEVENTH MONTH (NEHEMIAH 8:1). The final words that closed off the list of returnees formed a suitable preface to what Nehemiah now wanted to introduce, the proclamation of the Law by Ezra the priest at the Feast of Trumpe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE READING AND EXPLAINING TO THE PEOPLE OF THE LAW OF MOSES AND A REVIEW OF THEIR PAST HISTORY, LEADS TO THEM ESTABLISHING A RENEWAL OF THEIR COVENANT WITH GOD (NEHEMIAH 8:1 TO NEHEMIAH 10:39). Regardless of sources of which we cannot be sure, there can be no doubt that this whole section emphasis... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE WEPT ON HEARING THE LAW AND WERE EXHORTED NOT TO DO SO BY THEIR LEADERS ON THE GROUNDS THAT THIS WAS AN OCCASION FOR CELEBRATION (NEHEMIAH 8:9). It is apparent that there was a revival atmosphere at the gathering. God was present among them and His Holy Spirit was moving on men's hearts t... [ Continue Reading ]
OCCURRENCES ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH (NEHEMIAH 8:13). The Feast of Trumpets being over, the majority of the people returned home in order to fulfil their daily work responsibilities, mainly in the fields and among the flocks and herds. This was especially necessary due to the time spen... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR OBSERVANCE OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (NEHEMIAH 8:16). The passage now jumps from the second day to the fifteenth day of the month, when the people having gathered their branches, assembled once more in Jerusalem for the seven day Feast of Tabernacles. There they erected booths to dwell in o... [ Continue Reading ]