Neh 8:3 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.

We have here an account of a solemn religious assembly. The time of it was the first day of the seventh month (verse 2). That was the day of the feast of trumpets, and on which they were to have a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:24). The master of this assembly was Ezra the priest; he presided in this service. He stood in a pulpit or tower of wood, which they made for the preaching of the word, reading the Law of Moses and explaining it. He read from morning to noon. The hearers were attentive to the reading of the Law.

What is astounding was the behaviour of the people when the book of the Law was read.

1. ATTENTIVE: “the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law” (verse 3). None was distracted. No one was doing something else when the Law was read to them.

What were you doing when the scripture was read? Were you paying attention to the sermon? Sadly, it is not uncommon these days to see someone doing something else besides listening to the sermon. You can always see some who are serving checking their What’s App and Facebook for the most part when the preacher is preaching. They are not true worshippers for our Lord says that true worshippers worship the Father in spirit (referring to the attitude) and in truth (referring to obedience to God’s command): “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). Are you attentive when the word of God is preached?

2. REVERENT: “And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people….and when he opened it, all the people stood up….lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (verses 5, 6).

It was an attitude of reverent and respect for God. Now, compare the practices of the “Christian Churches” today at worship; what do you see? You see entertainment. Your hear noise. The so called “worshippers today” are there to see and be immersed in the noise. But worship is a solemn event in which the focus is on God and not men: “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:20).

To reverent God in worship is to be attentive and not be distracted when the worship is going on.

3. PERSEVERING. Ezra read from morning to midday (verse 3). For some six hours they all remained in their places (verse 7). They simply loved to listen to the word of God.

What do we see today? We see worshippers moving in and out during worship. Some have already made it a habit of leaving the worship and returning when the sermon is almost done. It shows an attitude of disinterest in the worship.

Does God deserve your worship? Does He deserve your time? Do you reverent Him when you are in His presence? One writer commented: “If through carelessness we let much slip in hearing, there is danger that through forgetfulness we shall let all slip after hearing.”

Let us reverent God in our worship. Let us be attentive when the worship is in progress. “Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.