Chapter 56—Instructed in the Law of God
This chapter is based on
Nehemiah 8
;
Nehemiah 9
; and
Nehemiah 10
.
It was the time of the Feast of Trumpets. Many were gathered
at Jerusalem. The scene was one of mournful interest. The wall of
Jerusalem had been rebuilt and the gates set up, but a large part of the
city was still in ruins.
On a platform of wood, erected in one of the broadest streets, and
surrounded on every hand by the sad reminders of Judah’s departed
glory, stood Ezra, now an aged man. At his right and left were gathered
his brother Levites. Looking down from the platform, their eyes swept
over a sea of heads. From all the surrounding country the children of
the covenant had assembled. “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great
God. And all the people answered, Amen: ... and they bowed their
heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
Yet even here was evidence of the sin of Israel. Through the
intermarriage of the people with other nations, the Hebrew language
[662]
had become corrupted, and great care was necessary on the part of the
speakers to explain the law in the language of the people, that it might
be understood by all. Certain of the priests and Levites united with
Ezra in explaining the principles of the law. “They read in the book
in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to
understand the reading.”
“And the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of
the law.” They listened, intent and reverent, to the words of the Most
High. As the law was explained, they were convinced of their guilt,
and they mourned because of their transgressions. But this day was a
festival, a day of rejoicing, a holy convocation, a day which the Lord
had commanded the people to keep with joy and gladness; and in view
of this they were bidden to restrain their grief and to rejoice because
of God’s great mercy toward them. “This day is holy unto the Lord
your God,” Nehemiah said. “Mourn not, nor weep.... Go your way, eat
the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom
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