Blessing #1 - 7 Blessings of Revelation Continued...
Written by: John Henville
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Nehemiah 8:4
Read and Hear the Word
People are more likely to follow a leader who is not afraid to live by example. This is strongly supported in Nehemiah 8:5. The children of Israel were seeking a revival a reformation in their spiritual lives and realized that this was impossible without the Word of God and the Law of God. They had all gathered together in one accord to seek God's explicit will and came to one who they believed was willing to live by example. Ezra stood up to read and beside him [also] stood the leaders to read from the book of the Law: “And Ezra opened the book [of the law] in the sight [eyes; witness] of all the people; ...and when he opened it, all the people stood up
[showing respect and reverence to the Word of God].”
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And [in one accord-"as one man"-Nehemiah 8:1] all the people answered, Amen, Amen, [I agree: may it be as read] ... and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD...." (They worshipped Jehovah). Oh that this was the attitude of God's people today towards Him. Heaven would rejoice and Christ's coming would be imminent! in Nehemiah 8:7,8, the Bible said, "And ALL..." This included Ezra, the leaders, and the people-- read and understood attentively and distinctively, the Word of God. They read, heard, and understood all that God required for their salvation and His glory.
Someone else hundreds of years later also understood what God desired of His people and never shied away from being an infallible Example. Luke 4:16 puts it this way, “And ..., as his custom was, he [Jesus the Christ] went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read [just like Ezra "stood up to read the Word of God in more ancient history]." And all [eye witnesses]... wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth...[the mouth of God]." “And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.”Luke 4:22;16. Just like the believers during Ezra's time, the believers in Christ's time heard the read Word of God and worshipped God.
Don't Settle For An Incomplete Blessing
Reading and hearing are incomplete blessings without the crowning act of love in action--Obedience. The first blessing is a three-fold blessing that includes reading, hearing, AND keeping. Thus we see that though knowledge and understanding are important, applying the wisdom gained is essential. What is knowledge and understanding without obedience? It is like expecting a hot balloon to fly without air and the lungs to work without oxygen. Christ elevates this principle by putting it another way:
At a most definitive time in His experience and that of His disciples, the crowd pressed to hear Him. but someone saw His mother and brothers trying to get to him also and told Him so. His reply though astonishing was meant to convey a deep eternal truth.
"And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it." Therefore, those who are recognized as a part of God's family and who will be citizens of Heaven are those who hear the word of God, and do it. Luke 8:21.
Appreciate and Keep the Word
God is interested in the blessings of prosperity in finances, family, and future success, however, He is more interested in a blessing of a different kind. Material blessings are temporal. A person may possess good finances, a great family, and future success, however, all these do not guarantee one a place in Heaven. Therefore, Jesus pointed His disciples to prefer a different kind of blessing:
“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.”
Christ did not condemn the blessing that the woman sought to give Him,( who wouldn't want their mother to be blessed?), but He directed her to something much better: Luke 11:28 tells us where God wanted us to pour out our appreciation and focus our blessings... in the keeping of His Word."
"... Blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it."
Happy are those who read, hear, and keep God's Word. The word "happy" in this context is Greek word #3107 in the Strong's Concordance: μακάριος, pronounced makarios. It means
supremely blest
by extension, fortunate
well off:-- blessed: "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:22, 25
happy(X -ier) “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:17
Our mental health is greatly improved or deteriorated in proportion to how we read, hear, and keep God's law embedded in His Word.“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3.
Commentary:
"Says the prophet: “Blessed is he that readeth”—there are those who will not read; the blessing is not for them. “And they that hear”—there are some, also, who refuse to hear anything concerning the prophecies; the blessing is not for this class. “And keep those things which are written therein”—many refuse to heed the warnings and instructions contained in the Revelation; none of these can claim the blessing promised. All who ridicule the subjects of the prophecy and mock at the symbols here solemnly given, all who refuse to reform their lives and to prepare for the coming of the Son of man, will be unblessed." Great Controversy pages 341 para. 2 and 342; For further reading click the link: Acts of the Apostle pages 583-584.
Prayer:
God help me to hear your admonition in James 1:22: “..Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Let me not seek a partial blessing but accept the full scope of your plans for me. Help me to Read; Hear; and Keep all of your Word. You have promised supreme happiness to the obedient, in the power and love of Jesus, Amen.
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May we be readers….hearers….doers and livers of His word!! Thanks for such a beautiful reminder!!
A much needed word TODAY. Blessings to the writer.