Nehemiah 8:5

_AND EZRA OPENED THE BOOK IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THE PEOPLE; (FOR HE WAS ABOVE ALL THE PEOPLE;) AND WHEN HE OPENED IT, ALL THE PEOPLE STOOD UP:_ When he opened it, all the people stood up. This, attitude they assumed either from respect to God's word, or, rather, because the reading was prefaced by a solemn prayer, which was concluded by a general expression of Amen, Amen....

1-8 Sacrifices were to be offered only at the door of the temple; but praying and preaching were, and are, services of religion, as acceptably performed in one place as in another. Masters of families should bring their families with them to the public worship of God. Women and children have souls to save, and are therefore to acquaint themselves with the word of God, and to attend on the means of grace. Little ones, as they come to reason, must be trained up in religion. Ministers when they go to the pulpit, should take their Bibles with them; Ezra did so. Thence they must fetch their knowledge; according to that rule they must speak, and must show that they do so. Reading the Scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God, whereby he is honoured, and his church edified. Those who hear the word, should understand it, else it is to them but an empty sound of words. It is ther...

Verse Nehemiah 8:5. _ALL THE PEOPLE STOOD UP_] This was out of respect to the sacred word: in imitation of this, when the _gospel_ for the day is read in our churches, all the people stand up....

STOOD UP - The attitude of attention and respect. Compare the existing practice of the Christian Church at the reading of the Gospel for the day....

PART II. ACCOUNT OF THE STATE OF RELIGION AMONG THE JEWS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF NEHEMIAH. EXPOSITION RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION OF THE PEOPLE BY EZRA, AND CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Nehemiah 8:1.). It can scarcely be imagined that Ezra had been present in Jerusalem during the exciting scenes which have been enacted in the first part of this Book, an

II. THE SPIRITUAL REVIVAL CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The reading of the law before the water gate (Nehemiah 8:1)_ 2. A day of joy and not of mourning (Nehemiah 8:9) 3. The keeping of the feast of tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:13) Nehemiah 8:1. This interesting chapter gives the record of a gracious revival through the reading of the law. All the people gathered themselves together as one man in the street that was before the water gate, the place which suggests the cleansing and refreshing power of the Word. And as a united people they had but one desire, to hear the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded, to I

PART IV (Nehemiah 7:73_ b_ - Nehemiah 10:39). EZRA AND THE LAW. Nehemiah 7:73 b - Nehemiah 8:12. The Reading of the Law. Nehemiah 7:73 b. These words are repeated by mistake from Ezra 3:1. NEHEMIAH 8:1. _Cf._ Ezra 7:6. It is clear that we have here only part of the ori

WHEN HE OPENED IT ALL THE PEOPLE STOOD UP. This is. significant statement. When the Holy Book was opened the people arose in respect and attention. Compare this profound reverence of the word of the Lord with the light and flippant reading and the irreverent listening now so common. How can there be. profound reverence for God when there is none shown for the word of God! Preachers, Sunday-school teachers, and all Christians should seek to promote. profounder reverence during the public reading and the study of the word of the Lord. The assembly not only arose when the book was opened, but prepared for hearing by prayer....

OPENED THE BOOK. unrolled the scroll. IN THE SIGHT. before the eyes. STOOD UP. In token of reverence (Judges 3:20; Job 29:8; Job 37:14)....

Nehemiah 7:73; Nehemiah 7:73. The Reading of the Law This verse begins a new section in the work. The style alters. The use of the first pers. sing. is resumed in Nehemiah 12:31. The Compiler has recourse to other material for this narrative. The thread of Nehemiah's Memoir, which was broken off at Nehemiah 7:5, is therefore not resumed. _and when the seventh month came_ R.V. AND WHEN THE SEVENTH MONTH WAS COME. The R.V. gives the right division of the verse. The second clause introduces a new section. Very similar words occur in Ezra 3:1 aft