Nehemiah 8:6–8

Ezra reads the law

Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 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. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

The people responded with praise and repentance. The following verses tell us that the people wept during the reading, so it must have included portions of Moses’ writings that rebuked Israel’s sin. When the people of Israel examined themselves, they realized they had been unfaithful. They wept tears of repentance. The preaching of God’s law had achieved its intended purpose when it aroused an awareness of sin, but the assurance of forgiveness and mercy would soon bring joy to replace the tears.

In our day, as in Nehemiah’s, the revival of spiritual life must begin with the preaching of law and gospel. This alone can produce renewal through confession and absolution.