2008-06-03 - Enough

Nehemiah 8:1-6 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. ² And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. ⁴ And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 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: ⁶ And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And 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.

The people of Israel did not have much at this time. They were rebuilding Jerusalem but they came together for hours to hear words from the Law of Moses. They were attentive; it was enough to have God's word alone. At the reading, they stood up and they bowed down.

Today in our modern churches, we have PowerPoint presentations. We have all kinds of light and sound systems. We have cushioned pews and air-conditioned sanctuaries. Other countries do not often have these luxuries. They gather in a single room with no windows huddled around one thing - the word of God.

I wonder in our luxury if we have forgotten that the word of God alone is enough. Do we bow to the comforts of today or to the eternal word of yesterday and tomorrow?

IHFHBOH
Adam

adam@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted