Daily Encouragement - Students and Teachers

Sundays are often the highlight of my week, what with seeing lots of friends who share my faith in Christ, music that is inspiring and draws my mind and heart toward God, but also having the privilege of hearing a sermon--one that is relevant and challenging--shared by one of the best pastors I've had the honor to serve under.

I love the word of God. I love to read it, hear it, study it, discuss it, ponder it, teach it, and be changed by it. So, when I read the following passage in Nehemiah some time ago, I was greatly encouraged in what Ezra and some other Levites did after the wall was rebuilt around Jerusalem around 444 B.C.

"Now in midautumn, when the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people assembled together as one person at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.

So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.

Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, 'Amen! Amen!' as they lifted their hands toward heaven. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground."

--Hang in there with me, sister, this is good stuff and you need to get the context here!

"Now the Levites--Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbathai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah--instructed the people who were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people to understand each passage. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, 'Don't weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.' All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law.

And Nehemiah continued, 'Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!'

And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, 'Hush! Don't weep! For this is a sacred day.' So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God's words and understood them."
(Nehemiah 7:73b-8:12)

The word of God is available in mass quantities in America in multiple translations. In addition to that are commentaries, books by topic and books on the books of the Bible, and we have teachers and preachers on television, radio and even the world wide web (you can catch my pastor here: newhopechristian.org).

The thing that encouraged me in this passage was the example that Ezra and these Levites set for future pastors and teachers and the value of reading the word of God out loud and then explaining the meaning so that the people could understand, and then Nehemiah spoke up at the end encouraging the people, "Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10)

We're not going to automatically understand everything we read in the Bible. We need the Holy Spirit to teach us, and God uses other people to teach us as well. If you feel called to teach, start a dialogue with God about what, how and to whom you are to teach. And we're all called to be students of the word--not just on Sundays, mind you; so what are you going to do today to continue in your education?