all of this is worship

BY Amanda Bible Williams

Text: Nehemiah 7:73-8:18, Leviticus 23:42-43, Psalm 30:11-12

From “early morning until midday” the people stood, all of them together, and listened to the Word of God. Ezra had brought the Book down and for hours on end the sea of people stood inside the wall they had built, brick by brick, and they listened.

They listened and remembered, once again, who God is. They listened and blessed the name of the Lord. They shouted “Amen, Amen” and lifted their hands. They fell to the ground and wept, and they sought to understand what they heard. And then they rejoiced. They rose to eat and drink, to give and to obey. And all of this was worship.

Remembering who God is.
Realizing who we are in Him.
Recognizing our sin.
Repenting and receiving grace.
Rejoicing in His goodness.
Returning to our lives, ready to speak the Gospel with our words and deeds.
Repeat. Do it all again and again.

All of this is worship.

As Ezra read the Word of the Lord, the people wept for their sin. But as the leaders helped them understand what they heard, their weeping led to rejoicing. It led to generosity. It led to discernment and strength to further obey and honor the Lord. As Matthew Henry says in his commentary, “Even sorrow for sin must not hinder our joy in God, but rather lead us to it… When they understood, they rejoiced.” (emphasis mine)

The day after Ezra read the law aloud, the people of Jerusalem built tents. On their roofs and in the courts, each built a “booth”, or temporary shelter, reminiscent of those they dwelt in in the wilderness.

Like the Israelites, we are just traveling through. This world is not our Home. But while we are here, we are a tabernacle on earth; we are the very home of God. Are we inviting others into the freedom we have found? (Or, rather, the freedom that has found us?)

Sisters, let us seek to understand the fullness of the Gospel today. Let us remember our great God, recognize our sin and take hold of His complete forgiveness. And let us rejoice.

Father, may we point to You in all we do this day. May we rejoice gladly and give freely and invite others in to receive the freedom of the Gospel. And may we do it all as worship. Amen.