The people stood up to listen, presumably as an acknowledgement that God was addressing them. As the reading continued, the Levites instructed them, ‘giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read’ (8:7-8). At some stage in this process, ‘Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground’ (8:6). Although the people wept as they listened to the words of the Law, Nehemiah encouraged them not to grieve, but to celebrate with food and drink, ‘for the joy of the Lord is your strength’ (8:9-12).
On the second day, as they gathered to give attention again to the words of the Law, they discovered the instruction to keep the Festival of Tabernacles in that month, which they then celebrated with great joy (8:13-17; cf. Lv. 23:33-42). Every day for the week of the festival, Ezra continued to read from the Book of the Law of God (8:18).
There are clearly aspects of this passage that belong to the situation of Israel under the Old Covenant, so that a point for point application to Christian assembly is not appropriate. In principle, however, it could be argued that the public reading of Scripture, with an explanation and application of what is read, should be central to the gathering of God ‘s people in any context (cf. 1 Tim. 4:13). This should be the basis and motivation for praise and worship, both within the gathering and in expressions of fellowship and service outside the formal structure of the congregational meeting. Keep reading
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