March 1, 2021

While looking for passages to focus on for the devotionals I have written, I admit that I often do not spend much time looking at the Old Testament. Sometimes the passages contain names that are difficult to pronounce, genealogical description that are difficult to follow since they list many generations of descendants with names that all seem similar to me, and some of the stories found in the Old Testament are depressing. As we commemorate the Lenten season, I thought of the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Neh 3) and how the people held a big feast, and then repented of their sins. In some ways it reminded me of Jesus triumphantly entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, being crucified on the cross on Good Friday, but then triumphantly rising again on Easter. What an emotional rollercoaster the followers of Christ must have experienced in that time.

Following the rebuilding of the city walls, Ezra, who was the priest, brought the Law to read to the people of Jerusalem. “Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” Neh 8:3. Imagine everyone living in Jerusalem gathering together and being attentive to the reading of the Word. “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.’ For all the people wept, when the heard the words of the Law.” Neh 8:8-9. After the people were taught the word, and helped to understand its meaning, they realized how far they had fallen from God, and simply wanted to weep. However, they were instead instructed to hold a feast. Neh 8:12. “Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly according to the prescribed manner.” Neh. 8:18. When we hear the Word, there are times when we realize how we are failing to live up to God’s expectations, and we may also feel like weeping. While we rightfully need to confess our sins and repent, we need to remember that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that he sent his own Son to be sacrificed so our sins could be forgiven. Then the Son was raised from the dead and triumphed over sin, giving us a path to an eternal future in Heaven. While we are right to feel bad when we are convicted of our sin, this Lenten season let us celebrate the fact that Jesus died so our sins can be forgiven!