Nehemiah was tremendously used of God to bless Israel by hearing from God, and carrying out a plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Biblical account of Nehemiah and his efforts are inspiring and have many applications to our lives as Christians. While this was a wonderful time in the lives of the nation of Israel, another momentous event took place at the same time. On October 8th, 445 B.C., Ezra, the high priest at the time, brought the scroll of the Law before an assembly of all the Jews in Jerusalem.
The date was significant because it was the first day of the Hebrew civil calendar. Ezra began reading at daybreak and read until noon. Historians tell us that the people stood and listened attentively and began to weep as they realized that what they were hearing were the very words of God. The reading of the Law on October 8, 445 B.C. was a turning point in the history of Israel. Until that day, the people's lives centered around the the temple. On this day they became a people whose religious life centered on a book - God's book.
The next day, October 9th, family leaders, priests and Levites met with Ezra to go over the Law in greater detail. Their detailed study led them to celebrat the Feast of Tabernacles again, and more importantly, it led them to celebrate again the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur on October 17th.
I have been reading through the Bible this year with the God Sightings version. I cannot tell you how many times God's word has given me a thought or promise to live by for the day. Sometimes it is a nugget of enlightenment that brings such joy and peace to my spirit. I can't imagine an entire city being so moved by God's Word that they wept as one and vowed to live by His law. What an incredible event.
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