Thought for the day – Sunday 10 May

Thought for the day - Sunday 10 May
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May 10, 2020
in Minister's Daily Message
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Dear All
Someone once said of their minister, that they thought his sermons were a bit like the ‘peace of God’ because they ‘passed all understanding’. I guess some sermons do pass all understanding and it can feel like eternity itself sitting and listening to a talking head. Incidentally, how many organ pipes, panes of glass and lampshades are there in Broom? Answers by e-mail, please! Tut, Tut.
I have three basic rules for public speaking and over the years in many and varied places it’s always the same no matter the ‘audience’, it’s a simple case of, ‘Reach em, Preach em, and Teach em’. You can’t go far wrong with this method. The reaching, preaching and teaching, of course, has to be done in the ‘allotted’ time. If not, you get a bad case of the fumblings, mumblings and grumblings. It’s highly contagious too you know.
Hearing and listening are not the same things, I’ve discovered. We can hear someone or something but not necessarily be listening to them or it. Listening requires some effort. listening means engaging our thoughts, even our posture and gaze, our whole attention is necessary. When we listen we learn. I heard a man drilling the road the other day, I certainly wasn’t listening to him.
Nehemiah, whom we read about recently, was now governor and was accompanied in his tasks by Ezra the priest and the Levites, with the unpronounceable names, in reading and teaching the law. The Israelites had been in exile in Babylon and now having returned home wanted to hear again the sacred teachings of God. What they heard upset them as they had been away for a long time and forgotten so much. It was their desire to get back to their familiar ways.
Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites sought to console, encourage and help the people to understand and everyone was included, the young and old. It required patience. The people were reminded that day as they gathered, that it was a holy day and that they were to cheer up, be happy and celebrate. The less ‘well off’ were not to be overlooked and they were to be provided for. There was to be joyous feasting and everyone was encouraged to enjoy themselves as the joy of the Lord would be their strength.
When we eventually get together we will also hear and listen again to the teachings we have missed for so long. We will be happy too, and we will give thanks and encourage one another in our celebrations.
Today I ask you to think/meditate on these things.
God bless you!

Jim

JBoag@churchofscotland.org.uk

 

NEHEMIAH 8: 1-12

All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.

So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 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.

The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

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