May 27 - Nehemiah 8-9: They Got It

That little word "it" has a lot of power.  We use the phrases, "she just doesn't get it" or "he has the 'it' factor" and there's even a book titled "It: How Churches and Leaders Can get It and Keep It".  Which all begs the question:  What is IT?

And all the people listened - they were all ears - to the Book of Revelation....

Ezra opened the book.  Every eye was on him...and as he opened the book everyone stood.  Then Ezra praised God, the great God, and all the people responded, 'Oh Yes! Yes' with hands raised high.  And then they fell to their knees in worship of God, their faces to the ground....

They translated the Book of The Revelation of God so the people could understand it and then explained the reading...

'This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!'...

So the people went off to feast, eating and drinking and including the poor in a great celebration.  Now they got it:  they understood the reading that had been given to them...

Then...the People of Israel gathered for a fast....The Israelites broke off all relations with foreigners, stood up, and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their parents...

'And now, our God, the great God, God majestic and terrible, loyal in covenant and love, don't treat lightly the trouble that has come to us...You are not to blame for all that has come down on us; You did everything right, we did everything wrong.'  (8:3, 5-6, 10, 12; 9:1-3, 32-37)

 According to these chapters, the "it" that the Israelites got was that God's Word - the Book of the Revelation - requires ears, eyes, listening, attention, and explanation.  That God is holy and that His joy was their strength.  That celebrating was needed that was not self-focused, but included the poor.  That fasting, obedience, confession, and worship of their great, majestic and terrible God was non-negotiable.

"It" is not one-dimensional and cannot be reduced to a formula.  It strikes me that what the Israelites got was what I need to get:  that God requires all of me and that in return He gives all of Himself to me.