BUILDING THE PEOPLE 1- Care for the law of God 2- Fasting, repentance and singing praise 3- Renewal of the covenant 4- The new inhabitants in Jerusalem 5- The lists of the priests, and the final celebration 6- Consecration and purification Now, we start a new section of this book, when all assemble to listen to the Word of God, and to enjoy its interpretation. Here, Ezra appears on the stage, after probably been absent in Babylon during the last period, when the wall was rebuilt, on account of that he had no role in that work for some reason or another. Now he appears to proclaim his collaboration with Nehemiah within his talents and responsibilities. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The general assembly most probably began by all hearing the Word of God, after which the congregation were divided into groups, to whom some Levites who were disciples of Ezra gave interpretation of what they heard.. Although it was a day of sorrow on the sins which the people committed, yet, at the same time, it was a day of comfort by the Word of God; which opened the door of hope before all. Joy prevailed upon sorrow, as the saying was realized: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5: 4). On the next day, a smaller assembly was held, attended by the rulers, to understand the law, to practice it as they should.. Both Ezra and Nehemiah cared to rebuild Jerusalem; the former to repair the temple, and the later to rebuild the wall of the city. Each was a leader in his work; and an interval of time separated between them. Whereas in building of the people, we see both come together; for it needs Ezra the priest and scribe; as it also needs Nehemiah the spiritual governor, full of zeal, together with love and firmness. Both of them were there: Ezra in chapter 8, and Nehemiah in Chapters 11-13 ; and the two names came together, saying “in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest, the scribe” (!2: 26). In this section we see that the reforms, or the rebuilding of the people themselves, set upon the following principles: 1- The Word of God, the secret of life of the people, is the same, and will never change; brings the people back to the holy life. The divine law is the pillar of faith. The Word of God, together with its befitting spiritual interpretation, is the foundation of reform in all generations; yet not in solid literality, but by the Spirit and the Truth. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2- The collective prayer reveals the relationship with God, based upon God’s dealings with the people in the past. ………For the present does not exist without the past; and there is no life in the past, unless it is practically translated in the present. 3- The procedure of building does not concern a specific category of people, and not another. It concerns the leaders, the people; men, women, and children. 4- The reform is set upon the holy worship, with its systems and rites; yet with the spirit of joy and exultation: “For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (8: 10). 5- The book of Nehemiah does not end by the completion of building the wall, but by the reform of the people. For the wall is not a goal in itself, but in that it embraces the congregation to practice their fellowship with God, and the spiritual worship 6- The true worship is dynamic; a continuous progress, not in the stones, but in the hearts, wide open with love to have the kingdom of God set in them. 7- The rebuilding is not a historical episode that passed on with time; but a perpetual unceasing work. + You should care to assemble more densely to give glory and thanks to God. For whenever you assemble for the Eucharist, the power of the devil deteriorates before the conformity of your faith. + No one should deceive himself………. If man outside the temple is denied the bread of God, he who, in pride, does not come to the assembly, will cut himself off from the fellowship. + Whoever is inside the altar is pure; whereas he who is outside the altar is not. https://coptic-treasures.com/ (St. Agnatius the Theophorus) CHAPTER 8 CARE FOR THE LAW OF GOD THE PEOPLE DEMAND READING THE HOLY BOOK: We did not hear that the people ever assembled together to hear the Word of God since Ezra came 13 years ago. Here, for the first fruit of building the temple appears. Ezra the scribe did not issue an order to the people to assemble together to hear the Word of God; but when the people did assemble together by the spirit of unity as one man, in the open square, they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses. The motives that kindled the hearts of the people to hear the Word were: 1- Through 52 days of building the wall, they experienced that what was achieved was not by human wisdom, nor by mere human planning, but rather by the grace of the Almighty God, who promised and fulfilled His promise. https://coptic-treasures.com/ 2- In the persons of Ezra and Nehemiah they saw examples of hearts kindled with the love and the fear of God, with courage, and no fear of the outer or inner opposition. 1- A collective assembly to proclaim the Holy Book 1 - 13 2- A celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles. 14 – 18 1- A COLLECTIVE ASSEMBLY TO PROCLAIM THE HOLY BOOK: “Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel” (1) The gathering together of the people as one man conforms to what came in Ezra 3: 1, which refers to such an assembly in the first day of the seventh month, considered as the head of the civil year; known as “the Feast of the Trumpets”, in which the trumpets are blown, together with instructions to the congregation; and the people cease to work (Leviticus 23: 24; Numbers 29: 1). + Do you see the great power that comes with the general accord? And the great harm done by controversy? ……The stirred up kingdom destroys itself by itself…………Two brothers bound and united together, come to be more solid than a wall. + The disciples of Christ had one mind; and, like brothers, they were as strong as a royal palace surrounded by mighty walls. They supported one other, steadfast in their unity, that made them stronger and stronger. (St. John Chrysostom) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The goal of that assembly was to repair the altar of burnt offerings, and to set the worship concerning the sacrifices. It is most probable that Ezra, after returning from captivity designated such assemblies on the beginning of the civil year; namely on the first day of the seventh month. “The open square that was in front of the Water Gate”; the gate that leads to the Gihon Spring; probably similar, but wider than the “open square of the house of God” (Ezra 10: 9); a very wide street by which man crosses from the temple, the stream of Kidron; Ezra preceded Nehemiah in going to Jerusalem by 13 years (458 BC). And although, most probably much older than him, they worked with one mind, and one goal, which was the glory of God, and the edification of His people on all aspects of their life. Ezra, being like a high priest, was the religious leader; while Nehemiah, being the governor of Judah, was the political leader; They were bound by a strong relation of love and respect.. Each had his own role, but would not do without the other; Ezra the elder was in need of Nehemiah the young man; who, in turn was in need of Ezra the elder.. . “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month” (2) “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”.(3) With submission, Ezra the scribe stood on the wooden podium, surrounded, on his right and left hand, by the priests mentioned by name. Reading the Word represented the divine presence; and was considered as a living and a main part of the worship shared by both the priests and the people. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Women were normally not allowed to attend the regular meetings, but in such a holy occasion, they used to come together with their children (Deuteronomy 31: 12; Joshua 8: 35; 2 Kings 23: 2; to stand for about five hours to hear the interpretation of the holy Word. + Reading in the divine books is not only like walking in a beautiful garden, but rather in a paradise, where there are not only fragrant flowers to smell, but delicious fruits that revive the soul. + In short phrases, the Holy Book plants the divine wisdom in whoever cares; and a single phrase to whomever receives it, may be a source of provision all along the whole journey of life. “So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, https://coptic-treasures.com/ and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam” (4) This is the first time “the platform” is mentioned in the Holy Book, on it Ezra stood, with six priests on his right hand, and seven on his left. It was a platform big enough to accommodate Ezra and 13 persons more (7). Shema, short of Shemaiah (Ezra 8: 13) Anaiah, means (God answers); one of those who signed the covenant. Mishael, means (Who is like God?); a friend of Daniel (Daniel 1: 6) “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up” (5) The book was high above the people who all stood up when Ezra opened it, for all to listen as though from the mouth of the Lord Himself. The book was a scroll, not a written document nor a printed book, which only became common at the beginning of Christianity. According to Rabies, the congregation had to stand up when the book is opened, and when the Torah is read. Up to this very day, the congregation and the priests all stand up when the holy gospels are read during the liturgies, to give honor to the Holy Book, representing the divine presence. “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (6). The collective reading mixed with all the people saying “Amen, Amen”, worshipping the Lord with their faces to the ground. It was as though the voice of the lord mix with that of the hearts of the believers, kindled by the divine https://coptic-treasures.com/ presence, and the faithful divine promises. ………. With our longing for a privatel sitting with the Word of God in our secret place; God’s pleasure is also to see us all gather together around the Word of God with the spirit of collective worship. In the Jewish Synagogues, the blessing is given before reading every chapter of the Holy Book ; and the congregation are used to lift up their hands during worship (Ezra 9: 5; Psalm 28: 2; !34: 2; 1 Timothy 2: 8). …… The repetition of the word “Amen” means confirming what is said )2 Kings 11: 14; Luke 23: 21). Known since the days of David (1 Chronicles 16: 36),. it is used by both the Jews and the Christians. Worshipping the Lord with the faces to the ground bears the sign of thanksgiving to God, the way the servant of Abraham did when he saw that the Lord made his way successful (Genesis 24: 52); \ when the believer asks something from God, like when Moses did (Exodus 34: 8); in the collective worship (Exodus 4: 31; 12: 27; 33: 10); and when the congregation hear a divine promise (2 Chronicles 20: 18). “Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place” (7) “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading”.(8) Reading in the old world was usually done with loud voice, even when man is reading in his secret place or in a chariot, as the eunuch of authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians did (Exodus 24: 7; Deuteronomy 17: 19; 2 kings 5: 7; Acts 8: 28). https://coptic-treasures.com/ “helped them to understand the reading”, According to some scholars, the Levites translated the Hebrew words in the law to the popular Aramic tongue; while others believe that they interpreted the meaning of the law. According to Kaiser the word ‘mporas’ means to interpret the meaning, and to translate what is read from the Hebrew tongue to the Aramic; on account that those who returned from Babylon after 70 years of captivity have lost their knowledge of the Hebrew language, and talked only in Aramic. “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep’. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law” (9) That great assembly was a call to the believers to meet together around the Word of the Lord, with the spirit of joy and exultation; everyone supports the other and encourages him, in an almost heavenly fellowship of worship . Together with repentance and the remorse on sin, both Nehemiah and Ezra lifted up the psyche of the people, to renew their spirit of joy in the Lord. ………The work of the church is to set up the fallen, and to fill the souls with joyful hope in the Lord. The wise Solomon says: For everything there is a season: a time to weep and a time to laugh” (Ecclesiastes 3: 4). Despite our sorrow on our own sins, and the fallen brethren; yet, when meeting together, the heavenly joy dwells in our hearts, and the exalted peace of God fills our minds. Even though the Word of God rebukes our conscience on our sins; yet it is befitting of the repentant, beside his sorrow and weeping on his sins, not to collapse and to lose hope; but to rejoice in the forgiveness of his sins, and in the exalted goodness of God that calls the sinners to Him. https://coptic-treasures.com/ The only day in the whole year, which God made specially for weeping and mourning is the Day of atonement – the tenth day of the seventh month.. “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (10) If those assembled have mourned on their sins, it is befitting of them to rejoice in the Lord, to eat from the food prepared for the feast in the fear of the Lord; and to send portions of the sacrifices to the poor and the needy, to let them partake of the joy of the feast…….. The joy coming from the Lord is our strength, which; in truth, is the presence of the Lord Himself in the midst of His church, and His dwelling in the hearts of His believers, to set His kingdom in them. The Lord Himself is our strength; for He is our Portion, our Rock, and our Joy; He is everything for us, All in All. The prophet David wrote a magnificent song, and delivered it into the hand Asaph the head singer, to put it into melody, and to sing it; in which it came: “Sing to Him; sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works; Glory in His Holy name; Let the heart of those rejoice who seek the Lord Seek the Lord and His strength Seek His face evermore” https://coptic-treasures.com/ Honor and majesty are before Him. Strength and gladness are in His place” (1 Chronicles 16: 9-11, 27). The prophet David also sings, saying: “In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16: 11). The joy that the world presents is only temporary, and does not support the soul; whereas the joy that the Lord gives, destroys the hell around us, and turns our life into a joyful paradise. The Lord is our strength and eternal joy. The celebration of the feast is realized by rejoicing in the Lord, and exchanging the brotherly love, together of giving alms. God would be pleased in our joy in Him, and in our care for one another. Sending portions, during feasts implies sending the need of the poor, to let them partake of the joy together with their able brethren; ………..This custom is still common in some regions, like Upper Egypt; where the believers send food to the poor, and also to their mourning friends and relatives who do not prepare food for the feast. The rite of the Forim includes sending portions to one another (Esther 9: 19). When Mordechai issued an order to keep as a feast, the month that turned for the Jews from sorrow to joy, and from mourning to rejoice; to make them days for drinking wine, joy, sending portions one to another, and giving alms to the poor (Esther 9: 22). Here, he discerns between sending portions to friends and relatives, and sending them to the poor; but both of them bear the sign of mutual love. ……..To this the book of Revelation refers by saying that the wicked will exchange gifts or portions when the two witnesses are dead; as a sign of their joy, gloating and exultation, for getting rid of those who tormented the dwellers on earth (revelation 11: 10). Commenting on the word “gospel”, as being (joyful news), St. John Chrysostom says:: https://coptic-treasures.com/ [Yes, because it implies waiving of punishment, forgiveness of sins, justification, sanctification, and redemption “1 Corinthians 1: 30), adoption, inheritance of heavens, and an entrance into a relationship with the Son of God, who came to proclaim that to all:: to the enemies, the crucifiers, and those sitting in the darkness. What could be more joyful?1……...God became on the earth, and man became in heaven;…………all mix together, the angels mix with humans; and men became in company with the heavenly hosts………….Behold, man sees how the long wars have come to an end; and how the reconciliation between God and our nature is realized. The devil became a reproach; the demons fled; death is dead; the paradise is opened; curse is taken away; and sin is no more on the way………Danger is gone, truth is back; the seed of godliness is sown and flourished; the heavenly system is set on earth; and the heavenly hosts entered with us into secure dealings; the angels came often to earth; and hope in the things to come poured profusely] Eating what they savor in the fear of the Lord, and letting the needy partake of the celebration of the feast. The secret of their strength is not in food or drink, as much as it is in their joy in the Lord, and their obedience of His will with the gladness of heart. . “So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved” (11) Up to this very day the Jews celebrate the day next to the Feast of the Sukkoth, called ‘the rejoice in the Torah’ (Simhat Torah), when they make a circle-form procession inside the Synagogue, go around seven times with different persons, each holding a scroll of the Torah; and the children carry banners on which is written words that glorify God. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them” (12) The goal was fulfilled. They listened to the Word of God, understood it, and reacted to it. + Do not victimize yourself to the tyrant of grief,…… Control yourself, for the tempest is not stronger than your will. + Don’t ever be depressed. There is only one thing fearful – the sin. The true joy is that of the life to come, when the soul is not tortured, and when covetousness is torn apart. The happiness of the Christian is a true happiness, and not a feverish pleasure; It provides the soul with liberty, an attractive liberty, rich in real pleasures. + “Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3: 1). .He truly say, “Rejoice in the Lord”, and not according to the world, which is not a true joy………. He says that troubles, according to Christ, bring forth joy. But why does he say:: ”so that I would become less sad”. St. John Chrysostom answers: [He did not say: ‘that I would not become sad’, but “less sad”. Showing that his soul was not completely free from sadness; for he says: “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” (2 Corinthians 11: 29). How could such a man ever be free of sadness? https://coptic-treasures.com/ + He says: It is not a sin to suffer, but I would rather rejoice to go to Christ. Will you not rejoice with me? ……..”Rejoice with me”………I wish we, as well, rejoice to see a righteous man dies; and rejoice more to see the hopelessly wicked die. For the former will go to get the reward on his good works; and the later will at least cease to commit his violent sins. (St. John Chrysostom) “ 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” (13). The long captivity in Babylon, the desolation of Jerusalem, and the destruction of the temple, had drastic effect, not only on the common people, but even on the heads of the fathers’ houses, the priests, and the Levites; all came to be in need of someone to interpret the law to understand its words. 2- A CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES: “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” (14) https://coptic-treasures.com/ The Feast of the Tabernacles (of the seventh month), is one of the three great feasts, beside the Passover, and the Pentecost (or the Feast of the weeks). …… It is joyful agricultural feast on the occasion of the harvest (Exodus 23: 26; Deuteronomy 16: 13; Ezra 3: 4). The leaders forgot all about the great feasts like the Feast of the tabernacles. And the Levites had to search the law to know how to celebrate it with joy and exultation. ‘David Hocking’ in his work published in the year 1991 AD, with the title “Reviving The Stones”, interpreting this chapter of the Book of Nehemiah, says that for a duration of 8 years he lived next door to a Jewish Orthodox family with 9 children. He used to find pleasure to look over the wall at what this family used to do during that feast, how they used to desert their house for a week, and live instead in a booth they make and set in their backyard; how they used to dance, and joyfully jump around, singing “Come, O Messiah, come”; and how even the little children used to cry out with exultation: “Come, O Messiah, come. Come, O Messiah, come”. The tabernacles refer to the journey of the people in the wilderness; and represent the anticipation of the fulfillment of the divine promise concerning the coming of the Messiah the Savior, to set His kingdom , which the Jews assumed to be an earthly kingdom, that would cover the whole earth. ……….. The feast of the Tabernacles, to the Jews, was a season of joy, in which they eat and drink wine. In the Feast of the Tabernacles, the Jews remember their humiliation under bondage to Pharaoh; and the strong hand of God that liberated them, and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They also remember the forty years they lived in the wilderness, where they had no place to settle down; and to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to God for what He gave them. In this feast they remember https://coptic-treasures.com/ that they are sojourners in this world, seek to settle down in the heavenly Canaan, in the divine bosom. “ 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.” (15) This feast, sometimes called “The Feast”, or “The Feast of the Lord”, is celebrated by making booths covered by tree branches, adorned by fruits and vegetables. The Jews use the palm, the willows and myrtle branches to wave in all directions. “ 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” (16) The roofs of houses in the Middle East, most probably made flat, to sleep on, when the temperature is too high to sleep down in the house, are used also by the Jews to set booths on them, where they dwell for the duration of one week during the feast of the Tabernacles.. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “ 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” (17) According to some, this text does not mean that this feast was not celebrated since the days of Joshua the son of Nun; but means that it was not celebrated so elaborately and in such a joyful way. The Feast of the Tabernacles was actually so celebrated after the dedication of the temple of Solomon (1 kings 8: 65; 2 Chronicles 7: 9); and after the return from captivity (Ezra 3: 4). Keeping the Word of God, and celebrating the feasts, bring forth very great gladness in the Lord, the secret of which is the feeling of the congregation of being attached to the Lord, through their obedience of the divine commandment. “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” (18). Reading the Word of God day by day, brings to the soul an inner joy, and a strength of a daily renewal of the mind. A study of the Word of God is a practical and a joyful encounter with God, the Source of joy and gladness. -------------------------- https://coptic-treasures.com/ AN INSPIRATION FROM NEHEMIAH 8 WHO WILL BUILD THE WALLS OF MY SOUL, BUT YOU, O LORD? + Grant me, O Lord, to assemble with my brethren around Your gospel; To enjoy Your divine presence work in all; Your Word is Spirit and life; Your Word leads us in the journey of this life; It divides before us the Red Sea; It turns the waters into a wall on our right hand and on the left; Your Word does the impossible; It turns the serious issues into a wall that protect us. + Your Word shakes our hearts by repentance; Together with the tears of remorse, fountains of joy in You will come out with force; Your Word turns our life into an unceasing feast; Your Word brings to us Your heavenly joy; We are strengthened by Your joy. O Holy One.
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