When People Desire The Word

Friday, October 7, 2011

Reading: Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3

Reflection: I think there are so many important principles in this little section of scripture that it is hard to boil it all down to one thing. First, we learn here that the central purpose of Nehemiah's ministry was not to build a wall, but to create an environment within which renewal of worship and transformation of people can take place. In other words, the wall was a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Second, we see that renewal always...ALWAYS...begins with the reading and understanding of God's Word. This is because it is God, not people, who ultimately brings renewal to people. Third, and the focus here in this blog, is that when renewal...or revival... are happening the clergy do not have to beg people to listen to God's Word. Notice that the reason Ezra read the Bible to begin with was because a gathered people begged him to do so. It's also interesting to note that they didn't just read a few verses. Instead we are told that Ezra read from daybreak until noon. This is critical. You see, when people are actually on the edge of revival, they thirst to hear from God. They can't get enough of it. Yet, in our day, we hear so many people say that you can't preach more than 20 minutes because people will not listen that long. The answer to this lack of desire to listen seems to be...at least to certain experts...is not to pray for and work for revival, but to simply give in and give people what they want...less of God's word. I believe that is backwards. We need more of His word. And prior to that we need more of a desire to hear that word. When God's people long to hear from Him...when they ask it to be read and are willing to listen from daybreak to noon, then the people will be revived and the church renewed. So today, ask yourself if you thirst for the word or not. If not, start to pray for yourself and others that you would thirst for the bible like a person wandering for days in the wilderness desires water.