Nehemiah 8:2–6 (ESV): 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Nehemiah 8:9–12 (ESV): This Day Is Holy
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Several observations:
1. The length of time the word was read
2. The attentiveness of the people
3. The elevation of the platform and the intentionality of it.
4. The people’s response of worship.
There is a respect, a desire, a hunger for the word.
There is a humble response to the word.
Worship requires humility.
Do I have such reverence for the word to listen to it for hours intently?
Does it provoke worship in my heart?
“Please put your plate down and stop doing that.” My wife’s stern voice came from across the table.
I lowered the plate, a smirk plastered to my face. She sat glowering at me, a mixture of disbelief and annoyance written on her face.
The children sat watching, intently. They glances volleyed between my wife and myself.
I held the smirk on face, panning around the table taking in everyone’s responses. I said nothing and slowly returned the plate to face, stuck my tongue back out, and resume licking the plate clean. The remnants of dinner still as savory now as they had been moments ago.
“That is not even your plate!” Came the insistent plea. “What kind of manners are you teaching our children right now?”
Lowering the plate, now licked clean, I smiled broadly.
“I don’t know, children, what do you think? What am I teaching you?” The amusement clear in my voice, spoken almost in a teasing manner.
They would not be baited. They knew better. They sat stoically. The volley of glances back and forth became more rapid even as my wife’s expression grew darker.
Sensing this could go south quickly, I threw up my hands in surrender.
“Ok, ok. But there is a purpose.” I explained.
“Children, Did you enjoy the dinner your mother prepared tonight?”
The chorus of explanations erupted from around the table. In fact, I knew they had enjoyed the meal before I even asked it. This was one of the families favorite meals prepared to perfection by my lovely bride still glowering at me from across the table. I was not the only one to wipe my plate clean, scrounging every last crumb and juice from the plate. I WAS the only one to bring my own plate to my face, licking it clean and then move on to my son’s plate next to me. But everyone performed their own variation of savoring every last morsel of this meal.
“Why did so many of us work so hard to savor every last crumb of our meal tonight?”
“Because, Papa,” came the squealing delight of my 5 year old, “It was deeeeeelicious!”
“That’s right!” I smiled and praised him!
“It was SOOOOO delicious that we sought to devour even the tiniest morsels that remained on our plates! And as delicious as those morsels were, the full course, the main meal was even better, right!”
Enthusiastic squeals peeled from around the table.
“Just as we devoured our meals AND the crumbs with absolute delight and pleasure because it was so enjoyable, so God wants us to desire His word the same way! When we sit down to read His word, it should never be a chore, a burden, a duty, or a bore. His word is like this favorite meal of ours. It is BETTER than this favorite meal of ours. It is so delicious and desirable that we should be licking up the crumbs, savoring every last morsel we can!”
As I spoke, I watched my wife’s face soften as understanding filled her. She smiled and even blew me a kiss now.
“But, your mother is right. It is rude and improper manners to lick your plate.” I declared even as my daughter picked up her plate to lick it clean.
“Daddy…” she exclaimed!
I smiled at her, motioning for her to put her plate down.
“It may be impolite to lick your plate, however, you can lick and savor every last word in your bible reading today! Be sure to enjoy and savor every last bite of that!”
A Singular Passion 