神的話語使人復興
尼希米記八章13至18節
13次日，眾民的族長、祭司，和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那裡，要留心聽律法上的話。
14他們見律法上寫著，耶和華藉摩西吩咐以色列人要在七月節住棚，
15並要在各城和耶路撒冷宣傳報告說：你們當上山，將橄欖樹、野橄欖樹、番石榴樹、棕樹，和各樣茂密樹的枝子取來，照著所寫的搭棚。
16於是百姓出去，取了樹枝來，各人在自己的房頂上，或院內，或神殿的院內，或水門的寬闊處，或以法蓮門的寬闊處搭棚。
17從擄到之地歸回的全會眾就搭棚，住在棚裡。從嫩的兒子約書亞的時候直到這日，以色列人沒有這樣行。於是眾人大大喜樂。
18從頭一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念神的律法書。眾人守節七日，第八日照例有嚴肅會。
信息分享
誰帶領百姓去聆聽以斯拉誦讀神的話語呢？是眾民的族長，也就是各家的男主人(13節)。教導兒女認識神話語的責任，經常落在做母親的身上，但這裡的父親們，卻願意承擔此責任。他們認真聆聽神的話語，了解神對他們本身及其家庭的要求。
以色列人守住棚節的時候，要在寬闊處搭棚，並在棚內住宿七天。他們守這節是為了紀念幾件事。首先，是讓他們回想先祖曾經在曠野住在棚中達四十年之久。其次，是提醒他們緊記，他們雖定居在耶路撒冷，但那仍是短暫的居留。他們跟我們的一樣，永恆居所是在天家。
但最值得我們留意的，是他們遵從神的說話，會帶給他們真正的喜樂──請看第17節的最後一句。當我們遵行神的教導，就必常存喜樂。
在守節期間，以斯拉每天向眾民誦讀律法書。福音書也有提到這節期(約七2)。
我們若每天讀聖經，就必得神的祝福和幫助。我們讀經的時候也許會遇上不明白之處，但不管怎樣，我們仍可以遵行已明白的教導；只有聽命遵從，我們才有真正的喜樂和蒙福的生命。昔日的以色列民一知道律法要他們守節，他們便毫不拖延地遵行。他們為我們立下一個極佳的榜樣。當神的百姓遵行神的話語，與神同行，他們就大大喜樂。試問還有甚麼事情，比眾人一起與神同行更加快樂呢？
反思：聖潔與喜樂總是並肩而行的。
REVIVAL THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD
Nehemiah 8:13-18
13 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law.
14 And they found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month,
15 and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.”
16 Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim.
17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.
18 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.
Message
Who took the lead in listening to Ezra's reading of God's Word? It was the fathers (v.13). Too often this is left to the mothers, but here the fathers took their place. They found out for themselves what God had to say to them and their families.
They were to build bough shelters and live in them for a few days. This was a reminder of several things. First, it brought back to them the fact that their people had lived in tents for forty years in the wilderness. Second, it reminded them that while they might be living in houses in Jerusalem, it was still only temporary. Their permanent home is in the same place as ours-in heaven itself.
The important thing to notice, however, was their obedience to God's Word. This brought about real happiness-see the last part of verse 17. There is always happiness and joy when we are doing what God wants us to do.
Ezra read the Book of the Law to them every day during this special festival which later became known as the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast is also mentioned in the gospels (John 7:2).
If you are reading the Bible every day, you will be greatly blessed and helped. You may not always understand what you read, but if you obey that which you do understand, it can only bring joy and blessing into your life. When these people found out what was written and required, they did not wait. They did at once what God had said. What an example they have left for us. Happy are God's people when they are walking with him in obedience. What could be happier than a group of people walking with God?
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
True happiness and true holiness always go together.