“And their joy was very great” (Nehemiah 8:17)
Just a few weeks ago, millions of people were glued to their TVs in anticipation of one of the US’s largest sporting events—the Super Bowl. Even families like mine, who don’t watch much professional football, will sit for hours captivated by the spectacle of the Super Bowl. Many viewers don’t really care which team wins, but they cherish the time with family or friends. And some of us are just there for the party food or even the ads.
Events that bring together the attention and resources of a nation are usually connected to either a sport or a holiday. Big games and national days of celebration have a way of unifying people around a shared experience.
I have often wondered why the all-consuming, passion-evoking, big-spending, jersey-wearing, high-fiving, over-the-top enthusiasm of a big sporting event like the Super Bowl isn’t a more common phenomenon within the Christian community. Think about it—we have the very best news. We serve a truly awesome God who made the ultimate sacrifice to redeem and restore us, as believers, to Himself. We should have more joy, more passion, and more excitement than anyone because of our hope of eternity through Jesus. Yet, too often, our excitement and passion aren’t anything close to the excitement and passion of the big game.
I have often wondered why the all-consuming, passion-evoking, big-spending, jersey-wearing, high-fiving, over-the-top enthusiasm of a big sporting event like the Super Bowl isn’t a more common phenomenon within the Christian community.
In Nehemiah 8, there is a moment that captures what it could look like when the community of God gathers with this kind of enthusiasm.
The people of God were in the process of returning to and restoring the Promised Land following their exile as a consequence of their disobedience. While they were in captivity, all of their cities and walls as well as the Temple were destroyed. As they returned to the ruins, they had to begin to rebuild their properties and their lives. They also had to rebuild their identity as the people of God in the land of promise.
During the reconstruction, Ezra, the teacher of the Law of Moses, brought out the scrolls that contained the words of God and read them to the people. Here is Nehemiah 7:73 – 8:8 (NIV):
73 When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, 1 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.
2 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. 3 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.
4 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.
5 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. 6 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 understood what was being read.
The celebration continues in the next few verses and the people return for seven days to hear the Scriptures. I like to try to imagine this scene. The people have assembled. Anticipation is building. A stage has been constructed for the occasion. Ezra walked out in front of the crowd and up onto the platform so that everyone who had gathered could see him.
And he opens the scroll. The people stood and listened. They lifted their hands in worship. They bowed with their faces to the ground. They celebrated with choice foods and sweet drinks (v 10). There was much weeping. And there was delight.
And he opens the scroll. The people stood and listened. They lifted their hands in worship. They bowed with their faces to the ground. They celebrated with choice foods and sweet drinks (v 10). There was much weeping. And there was delight.
Why? The very words of God had merely been opened before them and read to them.
Nehemiah 8:17 summarizes the moment, “From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.” [emphasis added]
It is hard to imagine this enthusiasm simply by the mere opening and reading of the Word of God. There is such passion and excitement! This celebration was unlike anything they had experienced in generations. For seven days, they returned again and again to have the Scriptures opened and read to them.
There were no celebrity speakers to draw a crowd. There were no lights, no fanfare, no ads. Just the words of God opened and read were enough to create a national celebration and overwhelming joy.
Somewhere between Ezra on his makeshift wooden platform and our often highly-produced and well-programmed gatherings for worship, I fear that some of us have lost this sense of joy and excitement at the simple opening of the Word of God. When our pastors stand before us and open the Scriptures, it can feel like just another obligatory part of the service where the sermon fits best in the order of worship.
What if we could recapture the wonder of the Bible? What if we truly understood the amazing reality that the infinite, glorious God has chosen to share His heart with us and have His words written in a Book that we have the privilege of reading whenever we want?
There is nothing mundane about opening the Bible and hearing the voice of God. It should elicit such an excitement and joy and sense of celebration within us that makes a sporting event seem boring and trivial in comparison.
There is nothing mundane about opening the Bible and hearing the voice of God. It should elicit such an excitement and joy and sense of celebration within us that makes a sporting event seem boring and trivial in comparison.
Why?
Because the Bible brings joy.
It reveals who God is. It brings hope to the hurting. It shows us how to live and love and be. It reassures us with God’s truth, God’s promises, God’s protection. It corrects and disciplines and guides us. And its very words show that we were bought at great, great price.
Indeed, when we read God’s Word, we are changed.
The Bible is like no other book. It isn’t just words on a page only to be printed, packaged, and sold. They are the very words of God.
And while we may get some strange looks in church if we stand, cheer, whistle, and high-five those around us when the Bible is opened, perhaps we could reflect within our own hearts and minds on the majesty and wonder of the Scriptures. In doing so, we may be described as those who gathered with Ezra:
“And their joy was very great.”
*****
By: Michael Gunnin, EVP and Chief Growth Officer
Walk Thru the Bible
©2025 Walk Thru the Bible
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