13On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law. 14And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in boothsc during the feast of the seventh month, 15and that they should proclaim it and publish it in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” 16So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. 17And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. 18And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.
What lessons from this passage could we apply in our modern days?
Text to your group your thoughts and prayers, and you could also share a highlight on the website
The way of health is dramatically demonstrated for us in the closing verses of this chapter. God had anticipated the needs of these people. Centuries before, He had provided a most remarkable visual aid to remind them of the truth that would keep them from further destruction. This is the Feast of Tabernacles, a reminder that they were called as a people out of Egypt. Their departure was sudden and precipitous. They were not even to sit down when they ate the Passover meal. They had to eat it standing, with their staffs in their hands, dressed in traveling clothes, ready to leave. They went out at a word of command and left Egypt in one night. When they got into the desert, one day’s journey out, and night fell, where were they to find shelter? Moses had been told by God that they were to collect boughs and tree limbs and build booths for shelter. Then God ordained that they were to do this once every year. Even though later they had homes to dwell in, they were to build these booths and live in them for seven days. This was to teach them that they were always pilgrims and strangers on the earth. This world was not their home. All the great blessings of life would not necessarily be found in this present time but were waiting for them in glory. Therefore, they did not need to be distressed if they did not have everything that those around them were trying to get in this life.
That is the truth that will deliver us from the pressures of the times. We must hold things lightly. We must not think that houses, cars, money, and material gain are all that important. Even if we lack these things, the great treasures of our life remain untouched. To strive constantly to gain what everyone else has is a mistake. God teaches us to hold these things lightly. We must never forget that we are in the world but not of it. We are never to settle down here for good. I love the way C. S. Lewis has put it: Our kind heavenly Father has provided many wonderful inns for us along our journey, but he takes special care to see that we never mistake any of them for home. We are pilgrims and strangers, passing through this world. We are involved in it, deeply sometimes, but we are never to see ourselves as a part of it.
What will enable us to remember that? Verse 18 gives us the answer. Every day they read the Scripture. Every day they saturated themselves in the thinking of God. That is what makes for realism: When you think like God thinks, you are thinking realistically. You are beginning to see yourself the way you really are. You are seeing your children, your home, and your nation the way they really are. For the first time you are able to divest yourself of the illusions and delusions of a mistaken, confused world. You are beginning to work toward wholeness, healing, and strengthening of the things that abide.
Are we owned by our earthly possessions? Are we learning to hold them lightly? How can we recognize the unhealthy delusions of a mistaken and confused world?
In their rejoicing they’re celebrating God’s goodness, love, and provision. It encourages us to rejoice and give thanks continuously. At the same time, we’re also reminded that things in this life are temporary and that our true treasure is in heaven. We’re encouraged to focus and live for things that are eternal.
Today’s passage really spoke to my preoccupation with packing/unpacking/minor repairs, furnishing that comes with selling/buying a home.
The reminder is that we are pilgrims and sojourners in this land and the material isn’t eternal. What is eternal are our relationships with our Lord/loved ones and our souls.
Currently our house is empty except for Baby J. Clara is in Florida for a Campus Outreach conference and Noelle/Caleb are at Cru fastbreak at Biola. The empty house is a reminder of the things that matter…It quickens me to prayfor my kids’ deepening relationships with Christ as they are all investing in that relationship
What I learn here is that the word will offer us the truth on how to relieve the pressure of today’s crazy times. You see in this passage that the people are reminded that they did not need to be distressed if they did not have everything that others may have, because through reading the word you’re assured God’s there for you, even after seeing what is really going on in the sinful world. So even though it was a celebration, it was also an amazing opportunity for learning and spiritual growth.
This passage was a reminder of the things that matter on earth. All the wealth and worldly possessions that we hold onto are nothing compared to knowing God and His might and worth. I must not think ? that what I have on earth is eternal, but the things in heaven are. I pray that God would wake me so that I would lean on Him more and more each day.
From brother Don
The first lesson from this passage that we can apply today is contained in verse 13. “On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law,” (Nehemiah 8:13). The smaller group that gathered to Ezra consisted of those who had teaching responsibilities: the heads of households to their families and the priests and Levites to the community. We too, as members of Christ’s body, have a responsibility to study God’s Word so that we may be effective in teaching others and guiding them into a better understanding of who God is.
The next lesson I see that would apply to us is the application of the Word. Not only did they strive for intellectual understanding of the Law, they immediately applied it into their lives by following God’s command regarding the Feast of Booths. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,” (James 1:22).
Another lesson that we can learn from this passage and apply today comes from verse 18. Deuteronomy 16:13-17 describes what God requires during this Feast. When we compare that to Nehemiah 8:18, we see that the people actually did more than what was required, reading from the Book of the Law each day, which surely arose from their exuberant zeal for the Lord! This would implicate hearts that would not just desire to keep the letter of the Law, but sincerely desire to worship God in spirit and in truth.
Lord, give us a hunger to study Your Word, which is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Give us the self-discipline and wisdom to apply Your Word into our daily lives, and give us hearts that long to love You as we should. You alone are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise!
Today’s passage is very humbling in showing that the materialistic and worldly things that surround us and are lawless aren’t worth. However, following God and His law that were made with love will bring us joy. I pray to not allow my negative emotions, my desires, and my wills to not cloud my relationship with God. To continue to grow in faith and more obedient in the Law and along with God.
Daniel shared:
I liked the double meaning of the passage. For one, as Steadman points out, the feast the Jew partook in was a reminder that we are strangers of this world and should hold nothing to it. It’s like those NOTW stickers you see on cars, we are Not of This World. And it’s such a refreshing message as having no holds in this world makes letting go of things in competition to Jesus so easy. Like, if something of value was lost it would suck initially, but that doesn’t mean the loss should have a permanent hold on us, we can just let go. If anything that’s true freedom right there: not letting anything of this world have a hold on you whether it be money, possessions, power, etc. I also liked the other message as seen in how the Jews took of their surroundings to build their booths as it also showcased how we’re not just free from the world’s influence but that we also hold dominion over it as well. So, it’s not taboo to use and enjoy the things of this world, it’s just taboo to let the things of this world control us when it should really be vice versa.