Select Page

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. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 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 Lordwith their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,] helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 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. 10 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.” – Nehemiah 8:1-10

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem after the Babylonia captivity, he found hurting people and broken lives.  Immediately he gathers the people to hear Ezra read God’s word from the town square.

People were truly affected by hearing these words and wept (verse 9).  When Ezra finished, Nehemiah told the people to “go and enjoy choice foods and sweet drinks and send some to those who have nothing prepared.”

Throughout January, we’ve been gathering food for our friends “who have nothing prepared” at Westshore Elementary and many of you have responded.  Every week throughout the year, we provide weekend food for about 10 food-insecure families who are a part of this school.  These are children who eat breakfast and lunch at school during the week and have been identified by counselors as most at risk of not having enough to eat on weekends.

Thank you for giving to this ministry.  May these families and children experience the presence of Christ simply because you have responded to God’s word.