Ezra Reads the Book of Moses

The exiles had returned to Jerusalem, Neh 7:66  The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, They were safe within the walls of the city. The doors were hung. Ezra the priest was about to read the book of the law for the first time, in their Holy City.

Neh 8:1  And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
Neh 8:2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:3  And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Neh 8:4  And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Neh 8:5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
Neh 8:6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Neh 8:7  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
Neh 8:8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Neh 8:9  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

They stood for the reading of God's laws, from daybreak until noon. Ezra blessed the LORD and the people raised their hands with their heads down. The Law was read and it was made clear to them, by the teaching priests as to the meanings. They were given the understanding of what was read, for they did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. This was a special time for them and they were all filled with tears. Tears of joy and tears of the conviction of sins, for without the law their is no knowledge of sin. Be assured that the law cannot save you.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Sin and idolatry had brought judgement and ruin to the the nation. Now, by faith in God and the understanding of his laws they would be saved by faith. The law shows us our sin.  Faith in the promises of God would save them.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

I am saying these verses about faith, because we are not saved by attempting to keep the laws. We are saved by faith in Jesus who has redeemed us from the curse of death for our sins. Within the books of the law was the story of Abraham who obeyed God by faith in his promises. The law of Moses shows that Abraham obeyed God by faith. It was the lack of faith that caused most of the children of Israel to fail in their journey from bondage in Egypt to their promised land. Faith is the way we are to live for God. Faith and obedience. The law condemns but faith leads us to the promised salvation of God. Faith brings us to Jesus, the Salvation of God. We cannot come to our resting place without faith. Where Jesus leads us is our peace. He will bring us to be with him, by faith.

Who is your father?

The Jewish religious leaders were entrusted with the responsibility of the word of God and the laws of God. When God the Father sent his Son Jesus, who is the Word of God come in a living person, he was harassed and rejected by them. Those who were to be examples to God's people of righteousness and truth, were themselves self righteous murderers and liars. Those who oppose the Word of God that was sent by God have another god. The god of this world is the devil.

John 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
John 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
John  8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

This is not a condemnation of the Jews, for Jesus was born a Jew; the king of the Jews. It is a picture of the children of darkness, who follow the ways of their father the devil. They accused the Son of God who was born of a virgin, as being born of fornication. The devil is a false accuser and a liar and where there is power, he will try to take over.

Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Jesus was not against Jewish synagogues when he spoke to John about the synagogue of satan. The devil will come into some synagogues and some churches through people who are not able to see the truth. These may pose as being the leaders, they act out the part of being spiritual leaders but they are only hypocrites, playing a part that they are not given by God. You will know them by there words and actions. Jude described them very graphically.

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

We are to test the spirits. Almost everything is of a spirit of good or of evil.

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

The devil will lure many after his ways, promising them fame and fortune only to then  die apart from God. We are not of the devil, but of God by faith in the Living Word. Beware of these false ones who oppose the true work of God. Continue as witnesses of the Word and the truth. Endure persecution and know that we will be with God and not be condemned with those who follow the devil.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

All praise and glory to God.

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Blessings of God

When Moses was called to be the deliverer of his people, he felt that he was not adequate for the job. He was alone in the desert with only his Midianite family for forty years. Your mind can think a lot of things when alone and separated. When he said that he was not a good speaker, God sent him his brother Aaron who would be the spokesman and high priest of the people. Moses came from the family of the Levite's who would become the tribe that was separated unto God. Moses and Aaron were given visions of what would happen in Egypt. Feeling most humble Moses with his brother went to Egypt. They went as sent by God, trusting Him to deliver His people. When we overcome our thoughts and circumstances by responding to the calling of God, we will be a blessing. God spoke a blessing to His people through Moses and Aaron.

Num 6:22 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 6:23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
Num 6:24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
Num 6:25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Num 6:26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Num 6:27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

We want and need the blessings of God that come by faith and obedience. We are to be the people who bless others from the blessings we receive through God. This is promised through the Abrahamic covenant, to the people of faith in the one true God.

Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 

Be blessed and share your blessings.