“Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:3 NKJV).

ARE YOU ATTENTIVE TO THE WORD AND WORSHIPING TOGETHER?

Nehemiah led a group of Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken down walls. They had lost their nation and freedom to worship 70 years earlier when the Babylonians had invaded. Jerusalem was destroyed and its people and wealth were carried away. But after 70 years, God had made it possible for them to return from exile to rebuild Jerusalem.

When Nehemiah and the people had finished rebuilding the walls, they held a worship service. Everyone gathered “as one man,” to hear the Word preached and to sing and pray together. All the war, dissension, fear and anxiety of the past years fell away. They were so glad and thankful to worship together that no one wanted to miss it. They understood what a gift it was to be able to freely worship again that no one cared how long the services ran. So from sunrise to noon, everyone listened “attentively” to the reading of the Word.

Oh, that God’s people in America would begin to rebuild its broken-down walls and gather again as one man to worship and listen attentively to God’s Word!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray for revival. Call Your people to return to You. We see the brokenness of our land, but help us look to You instead. For You alone are the answer. In Jesus’ name, amen.