神的话语使人复兴
尼希米记八章13至18节
13次日，众民的族长、祭司，和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那里，要留心听律法上的话。
14他们见律法上写着，耶和华藉摩西吩咐以色列人要在七月节住棚，
15并要在各城和耶路撒冷宣传报告说：你们当上山，将橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕树，和各样茂密树的枝子取来，照着所写的搭棚。
16于是百姓出去，取了树枝来，各人在自己的房顶上，或院内，或神殿的院内，或水门的宽阔处，或以法莲门的宽阔处搭棚。
17从掳到之地归回的全会众就搭棚，住在棚里。从嫩的儿子约书亚的时候直到这日，以色列人没有这样行。于是众人大大喜乐。
18从头一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念神的律法书。众人守节七日，第八日照例有严肃会。
信息分享
谁带领百姓去聆听以斯拉诵读神的话语呢？是众民的族长，也就是各家的男主人(13节)。教导儿女认识神话语的责任，经常落在做母亲的身上，但这里的父亲们，却愿意承担此责任。他们认真聆听神的话语，了解神对他们本身及其家庭的要求。
以色列人守住棚节的时候，要在宽阔处搭棚，并在棚内住宿七天。他们守这节是为了纪念几件事。首先，是让他们回想先祖曾经在旷野住在棚中达四十年之久。其次，是提醒他们紧记，他们虽定居在耶路撒冷，但那仍是短暂的居留。他们跟我们的一样，永恒居所是在天家。
但最值得我们留意的，是他们遵从神的说话，会带给他们真正的喜乐──请看第17节的最后一句。当我们遵行神的教导，就必常存喜乐。
在守节期间，以斯拉每天向众民诵读律法书。福音书也有提到这节期(约七2)。
我们若每天读圣经，就必得神的祝福和帮助。我们读经的时候也许会遇上不明白之处，但不管怎样，我们仍可以遵行已明白的教导；只有听命遵从，我们才有真正的喜乐和蒙福的生命。昔日的以色列民一知道律法要他们守节，他们便毫不拖延地遵行。他们为我们立下一个极佳的榜样。当神的百姓遵行神的话语，与神同行，他们就大大喜乐。试问还有甚么事情，比众人一起与神同行更加快乐呢？
反思：圣洁与喜乐总是并肩而行的。
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.