The people all stood up
“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.” (Nehemiah 8:5)
As we know, there are many sermons now conducted in the form of personal testimony or lecture of study. Testimonial speaking is the act of presenting personal experiences of faith openly to the others. And lecture of study is an act of explanation to convey knowledge to the learners. People who listen to sermons usually prefer to famous and knowledgeable preachers. Also, preachers often would like to show off their own experience, knowledge and authority as possible. And yet most preachers and listeners not aware of what’s wrong with their own such ideas and attitudes. Streaming color of church and faith has a deep connection to those things. One of the realities of today’s church is that the meaning of pastoralism inside church and outside missionary work are not exactly distinct.
Ezra, a scholar familiar with Moses’ laws, led his own people, after returning to Jerusalem at BC458, when the second return of Jew’s Babylon Captivity. And Nehemiah worked as the governor of Judah after coming his home land, in BC444 when the third return from the Babylon Captivity. Ezra had the spiritual work for the people, and Nehemiah had a political charge of the construction of Jerusalem temple. They performed their individual duties almost in same era in each different field given by God. Their activities show an ideal model about performing the positions of Christian people and church leaders.
Ezra with the people of Israel heard Moses’ laws. Moses’ laws is the name that represents the word of God which is the basis of Ezra’s faith about the Holy God. And Christian faith begins by listening to God’s word. Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” This verse tells us the importance of listening, as well as the fact that the word of Christ is the core of all the Bible. Immanuel and Logos are the nicknames of Jesus Christ. Here the Immanuel means ‘God with us,’ and the Logos ‘the word.’ Christ who had come down to this world before, is the eternal God who is now with us in the Holy Spirit. Also the Bible says Christ, and the Holy Spirit is constantly telling Christ to man. Therefore by listening the Bible, people’s spirits can be alive. But while people try to give their lives for food of body, they unfortunately don’t strive earnestly for their spiritual life.
Jesus was very hungry since He had fasted for forty days before the public life. Then Satan the tempter came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Then Jesus answered, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” in Matthew 4:3~4. People who belong to the flesh think that they will only live by bread, so they devote their lives only for bodily food. But spiritual men try to gather always their minds to eat the word of God. They expect to confirm that the Spirit of Christ is within their life, as well as reading the Bible. And by praying and living in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they wish to offer themselves as a sacrifice to the Lord.
When Nehemiah opened the Book of the Law, all the people stood up at once. It may be regarded just general for them to take a posture of standing up from their seats. However we have memories that we had taken a posture of special attention when singing a national anthem or school song or army’s song. That is, the posture of standing up signifies a polite and determined attitude. We have to know, listening to the word of God or worshipping God is fundamentally different from attending to lectures or meetings for entertainment. For worship is the act of standing in the presence of God, the especial time to sacrifice oneself to God, and the time to promise to the Lord to give life.
Of course, personal testimony or lectures may also help the faith. But listening to God or worshiping should not be perceived as listening to personal testimony and lectures. And the preaching is to interpret and deliver the word of God, so the preacher’s experience and knowledge may be to some extent utilized for his preaching. Though, experiences and knowledges cannot be the heart of the sermon at all. Every audience as well as preacher should have an attitude of worship to listen to the word of God, for preaching is not to show the authority of the preacher, but to announce the salvation of Christ.
(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on July 12th 2020)