The Point

Nehemiah 8:2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

The “point” of ministry should not be a secret, but these days it seems to be.

I don’t see many promotional materials or flyers about churches which speak of their desire to read the Word of God together as a church. As a consequence our society has drifted. We can blame the government or court cases which have promoted atheism, but the truth is the Church no longer lives and breathes the Word of God. As a direct result, people in the Church don’t know the Word of God, and so they are and have been easily influenced and moved by an agenda of secular humanism and moral relativism.

The same was true in Nehemiah’s day. Interesting to me is what Nehemiah did with his presumed power. He had been appointed governor of Jerusalem in Judah by king Artexerxes, and he had come to Jerusalem and been wildly successful beyond anyone’s imagination – rebuilding the walls of the city in only 52 days. To say he was a popular figure in those days is probably a large understatement. Nehemiah’s popularity was probably off the charts, as he had accomplished what they thought could not be done, and he had done it in record time. He could easily have proclaimed himself ruler of that part of the world.

Instead, Nehemiah calls the people of God together in a sacred assembly. To hear a great speech by Nehemiah? No, Nehemiah calls the people together that they may have the Word of God read to them aloud by Ezra, the chief scribe. Amazing, considering the history of this people and how far they had drifted into secular humanism and moral relativism. But Nehemiah knew building stone walls around the city would accomplish nothing unless the people also built walls in their hearts.

Nehemiah 8:7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.

There has never been a time when it is more important for people to know and understand the Word of God than right now. Much has changed over time, but the need for the Word to be the very center and foundation of our lives has not. That should be the whole point of ministry. Everything else should flow from that.

- Pastor Bill