After spending 3 weeks with Isaiah during and after
the Exile, what a blessing to find this little passage from the book of
Nehemiah in our lectionary cycle! Isaiah
was the prophet of the exiles in Babylon and beyond. Ezra
and Nehemiah were leaders in the struggling Jerusalem community back in the
“Promised Land.” These were difficult times for the Israelite people. The Persian rulers sent Ezra and Nehemiah to
provide order through spiritual and political leadership.
In
some traditions the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are one book together although
many sources doubt they had actual contact other than on the pages of the
bible. Ezra was a “priest … a scribe and a scholar
of the text of the commandments of the LORD” who is concerned with the
spiritual lives of those returning. (Ezra
7:11) Nehemiah was the appointed governor
and works to bring people home and restore their physical lives. At this point
in the larger narrative Jerusalem has been restored. We drop in on the Jerusalem community as the people
call upon Ezra to read the Book of the Law.
We listen as they weep. This
reading seems a way of recommitting to God … this type of worshipful act echoes
the reading of the Law by Moses on the Mountain and the revelation of the Law
when King Josiah found the book of the Law on night when he couldn’t sleep. And dare I say when Jesus read the scroll
of Isaiah … “proclaiming release to the captives.”
God calls, we respond!
As you prepare your heart to read and pray the scriptures, remember
the struggles of the people returning to their ancestral land from their exile
... going home to a desolate, dark and lonely place which was only a faint
shadow of what it once was. If you have ever moved from one location to
another location, remember how it is to relocate to a new place. They say you can’t go home … have you ever “gone
home” after a long absence?
Just sit with your "remembering" right now and breathe a gentle breath prayer Breathe in … Holy God (pause)When you are ready to move into the text, use these verses from Psalm 19:7-10, 14 as a centering prayer ... The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb … Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Amen!
Breath out … here I am (pause)
Read the Nehemiah passage with the "ear of your heart" using Lectio Divina, during which you will breathe and listen deeply to this beautiful worship experience of the new community in Jerusalem.
Reading 1. Read the text slowly. Focus your attention on the sense of the passage as you hear it. Perhaps there is a word or phrase full of meaning for you on your own journey right now. Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready...
Movement 1 (Read) and repeat your word or phrase several times. Let the word or phrase that has chosen you sink into your soul. What word or phrase is most full of meaning for you where you are in your life right now?
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Reading 2. Read the text slowly again ... As you read, listen for the still small voice of the text whispering to you, “Here I am, where are you?” Where is God calling your attention? Sit with the “word” God has for you … it can be from the text itself OR it can be a different word or phrase that has arisen from the text. Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready ...
Movement 2 (Reflect) Where is your "water gate," the place where you gather with other or with yourself in order to experience God's presence and call to holy living?"
Reading 3. Read the text slowly again. Respond to God with prayers of surrender and commitment. Sing praises, whisper confessions, laugh gratitude, breathe in discernment, breathe out commitment ... whatever emerges from within you as you pray. Take a deep breath and move on when you are ready …
Movement 3 (Respond) How do you offer your prayers and your life to God today?
Reading 4. Rest in the gentle silence of God's presence. Breathe in the presence of God who is always with you, through your exiles and through your homecomings. As you move on, breathe out the love of God upon the world!
Movement 4 (Rest) Breathe … Breathe … Breathe … Amen
As you come to the end of your time of “resting” prayer, recommit yourself to the path God is leading you on through this prayer.
Wesley’s Covenant Prayer:
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will,
Rank me with whom you will;
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you,
Or laid aside by you,
Exalted by you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
To your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
If music is a pathway for you, check out I'll Follow You by Chris Tomlin.
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