Compared to the world, even to the religious world, we are small in number. In fact, when compared with the masses of populations throughout the years, God's faithful people have always been in the minority. However, we can still be the kind of people God wants us to be! The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, record the remnant of God's people returning to the promised land after seventy years of captivity (Jer. 25:12-14). They too were very small in number compared to the masses, but they could be (and were) the kind of people God wanted. From Nehemiah 8, we also can learn how to be the kind of people God wants.

We Must Want to Hear God's Word

The word of God played an important role to the returning remnant. "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man...and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding..." (Neh. 8:1-2). Note these important truths. First, the people were united in their desire-they all "gathered themselves together as one man"! Do we all, as "one man," desire what they did? Second, they desired the word of God. They did not ask for a latter day revelation, a new world translation, or a new hermeneutic. They wanted "the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded"! Although we do not live under the Law of Moses (Gal. 3:24-25), we must desire the word of God, the Gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3). Nothing else can satisfy our spiritual needs (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3). Do we desire God's word? Third, this hungering-and-thirsting-for-God's-word assembly involved children! The term "all that could hear with understanding" includes children (Neh. 10:28 cf. Deut. 13:12-13). Some think they do the congregation a favor by excluding children from the assembly, but in so doing, we are hurting the Lord's church by promoting ignorance and denying children examples in worship to follow. A child learns more about communion, for example, by observing faithful Christians than by being told in a back room.

We Must Be Attentive and Respectful of God's Word

When Ezra read, "the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose...And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up" (Neh. 8:3-5). Too many people in our assemblies are not attentive and/or respectful to the word of God. This shows when they do such things as clip their nails, play with the baby, or even sleep during the sermon. These things will not happen when people are attentive to and respectful of the word of God. The remnant, the text says, were "attentive" to the preaching. They even made a platform of wood so that they could see Ezra when he read. The people standing while he read was a sign of respect for what was being read (cf. Job 29:8; Est. 8:4). People who are attentive and respectful of the word of God appreciate it when they hear it. When "Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God...all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground" (Neh. 8:6). People who love the Lord agree with His word and give Him the glory! Of course, it is the responsibility of the preacher, or teacher, to "read in the book in the law of God distinctly," to "give the sense," and to "cause them to understand the reading" (Neh. 8:8). Are we attentive and respectful of the word of God?

We Must Respond Inwardly to God's Word

When the people heard the word that Ezra read, they were saddened, probably because they had not been keeping it. Then, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Levites said, "This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep" (Neh. 8:9). Although it is good for people to be mournful of their failures before God (cf. Mt. 5:4; Jas. 4:9-10), the reading of God's law and holiness should ultimately bring joy (cf. Ps. 96; 99; Isa. 35). Thus, the people were told to celebrate, "for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Neh. 8:10). They obeyed, "And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (Neh. 8:12). "Because they understood" is the key element to this inward response of the remnant. They understood their failures, and were thus mournful, but when they understood the opportunity they had to be right with the Lord, their inward disposition of sadness turned to joy! Understanding God's word is a prerequisite of a proper relationship and response to God (cf. Jn. 6:44-45; Rom. 10:17). When the eunuch understood the significance of his baptism, he "went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39). Do we understand God's word? Does it change our attitude toward sin? Does it change our attitude toward forgiveness?

We Must Respond Outwardly to God's Word

On the second day of this occasion, the remnant learned from God's word that "they...should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month...15...as it is written" (Neh. 8:14-15). God's people had not correctly observed the Feast of Tabernacles since the days of Joshua (Neh. 8:17)! Because their inward response was according to God's will, their outward response was also-"So the people went forth" and did what God said all along (Neh. 8:16-18). Not only did they do what God said, but also "there was very great gladness" that they were able to obey Him (Neh. 8:17)! What would we do if we learned from God's word that we were not doing what He wanted us to do? Would we obey, or would we make excuse as to why we would remain in disobedience? Jesus asked, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46).

We cannot be the people of God unless we want to hear His word, are attentive and respectful to His word, and properly respond both inwardly and outwardly to His word. May God help us to take seriously His word and seek above all else to live in harmony with it. Only then will we be the people of God.