May 25, 2008

Background Scripture: Nehemiah 8

Devotional Reading: Psalms 27:11-14; 19:7-14

June 17 will mark the 36th anniversary of Watergate, the 1972 criminal break-in at the Democrat Party headquarters in the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Since that day and the aftermath that resulted in the resignation of President Nixon, the term “Watergate” has taken on the most negative and tragic connotations.

The story in Nehemiah 8, however, tells us of another Water Gate, this one with positive associations. This date was chosen to happily and thankfully dedicate the newly-rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. Ezra the priest also chose this time to read and reintroduce to the multitude the long-neglected scroll of the law of Moses, as well as to reinstate the ancient and joyful Feast of the Booths.

All three of these events took place in the court before the Water Gate. (We are not sure today of the exact location of the Water Gate, but if you have ever been to Jerusalem and visited the Spring of Gihon, you were surely close by.)

There was probably one underlying purpose in celebrating the dedication of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem, reading the law of Moses and reintroducing the people of God to the Feast of Booths. Ezra the priest saw this as an opportunity to restore the covenant community of Israel. This was to be a time of rededication for the Jews who had gone astray and forgotten what it meant to be God’s people.

Mosaic law

The key to this great occasion was not the rebuilt wall nor the forgotten festival, but the law. Ezra and the temple scribes played a major role, interpreting into Aramaic, the language of the people, the law written in largely-forgotten Hebrew.

Among scholars there is considerable debate as to which part or parts of the mosaic law they read that day. We do not have to know the answer in order to appreciate the significance of the event. Upon hearing the words of the law, “the people wept” (8:9).

What was there in the law that caused them to weep? It was a recitation of all that God had done for them and expected from them, and they had not been grateful for God’s grace nor had they kept His commandments. Often when we read the Bible, we too find ourselves confronted with our own failures to keep covenant with God.

When at last they confronted their own infidelity to God, there was good news: “Go your way, eat fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him 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” (8:10). The bad news is our infidelity; the good news is God’s proffered grace.

Remember the time

Ezra then restored to them the forgotten Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles) in which Moses had enjoined the people of Israel to reenact the time when, after their escape from Egypt, the Israelites lived for a while in leafy tents or booths.

Thus, during the seventh month, Tishri (September-October), they erected booths, often on their rooftops, for a seven-day celebration, the most joyful and popular of Jewish  festivals.
After I graduated from seminary, my first pastorate was a church that, like many others in our denomination, held an annual “Week of Revival.” I was uncomfortable because my own pre-seminary church experiences had not included revivals and I found the heavy expectation of emotionalism contrary to my understanding of the gospel.

Today, however, I acknowledge the aim and purpose of the revival, if not always the methodologies.

I have observed in my own life and others that probably all of us need to periodically have a Water Gate experience of that other kind: to be reconfronted with the terms of the gospel and have an opportunity to significantly renew our commitment to the Lord.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.