The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 83

to d"·"\l upon it. The sacred and beloved city of God is now secure, its walls are rebuilt, its gates replaced and shut; its inhabitants are no longer struggling with hope end fear,-a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other,-but rejoicing in their strength and peace; internal discords are now arranged, and brethren are dwelling together in unity. With one accord they now come-all the multitude of them men, women, and children, a.s many as "could hear with understanding" (ver. 2)----j. to one large square (ver. 1 ). In the midst of this square is erected a broad and high platform, a pulpit, on which several men may stand. Room is made through the crowd for Ezra (who now again appears on the scene) and a few accompanying ministers ; they ascend the pulpit. As Ezra opens the book of the law of the Lord with spontaneous reverence the whole company rises to its feet. As the great Scribe, before he begins to read, utters a few words of thanksgiving, "blessing the Lord, the great God," all the people answer, "Amen, Amen," bowing their head and lifting their hands in reverent joy (ver. 6); and as Ezra reads and explains, spe~king in their own language the ancient law which God gave to Moses, and as their coun- try's early history is unrolled before their eyes, and old and hallowed memories are vividly recalled, the strong men as well as the women and the children yield to their emotion, and tears stream down their faces. "All the people wept when they heard the word of the law" (ver. 9). I. Two FEATURES OP' THIS SCE1'.'E WE SHALL BE WISE TO DWELL UPON. 1. The popular appreciation of the word of God. "All the people . . . spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law" (ver. 1). So far was Ezra from being obliged to urge the people to gather together and listen to the law, that they them- selves called for its production, and demanded that it should be read to them. They hungered for the bread of life ; they craved to hear the word of the living God. And "hen their wish was granted they showed themselves in real earnest, for they remained six hours eagerly listening as the law was read and expounded. Ezra "read therein from morning until midday . . . and the ears of all the people were attent- ive unto the book of the law" (ver. 3). 2. The ministerial function in regard to it. " Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood . . . and beside him stood Matti- thiah and Sberna," &c. (ver. 4); " also Jeshua and Bani," &c. (ver. 7); and "they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" (ver. 8). Here were two valuable things: (1) the distinct reading of the word of God; (2) the explanation of any obscure words or sentences, or, as we have it," giving the sense," or" causing the people to understand the law." II. Two INFERENCES THEREFROM WE MAY SAFELY DRAW. We may safely reason- I. That we now should show a still greater popular appreciation of the word of God. F •r we mnst consider how much more we have than they had, or than David had when he exclaimed how he" loved the law," and when he preferred it to bodily gratification and worldly treasure (Ps. xix.). We have not only more in quantity, but much of that which ought to be to ns more deeply interesting. We have, beside the " law of Moses which the Lord had commanded to Israel " (ver. 1), (1) the history of the Jews in the land of promise; (2) the Psalms of David; (3) the wisdom of Solomon; (4) the inspired utterances of many prophets; (5) the letters of apostles; and above all, (6) the very word of Jesus Christ himself, and the story of his redeeming love, with (7) the revelation of the golden city of God. How should we hunger and thirst for this bread, for these waters of life ; how should we be "very attentive to hear him ! " 2. That there is as much need now as ever of the ministerial function. For though indeed we have the word of God written in our own tongue, in our own home, and under our own eyes, there rem:J.ins, and will remain, the important func- tion of (1) expounding the sacred word. There are words and sentences, chapters and books " hard to be understood ; " there are now more things than there were then to ha:Wonise ; there is the connection between the two Testaments to explain; and there are heights which only some can climb, depths to which only a few can dig, treasures which only "the ready scribe" can reach, and these it is well to bring forth that all may be enriched. Moreover, the ministers of Christ, like Ezra and hie companions on this eventful day (ver. 6), have the high and noble function of (2) le,ading the people in pr_ayer and in thanksgiving; reverently addressing God, carrying the l1earts of all witli them, bearing on the wings of their earnest words the thoughts CIJ, VIII, 1-12.] THE BOOK OF NEREMIA:Et. 87