1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And 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.
9 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 as 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 to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. ~ Nehemiah 8:1-3, 9-12
Nehemiah went from being the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia to the governor of Judah. Let me just explain how significant this is. They had been in captivity for over 100 years. Nebuchadnezzar tried to take away their very own identity and culture by teaching them Babylonian culture, literature, language, and even changed the names of the most promising of them. They went from Babylonian captivity to Persian captivity. By the time they returned and they read the Law of Moses, they wept. They mourned. It was a big deal. For the first time in over 100 years, they returned to the land of their fathers. To the land God had promised them. Men and women born into captivity in a foreign land who had no understanding of the Law of Moses until now. It’s the first time they’re hearing it read out loud publicly in the streets.
Now, let this sink in for a minute: they returned to their promised land on the first Day of Tishrei. The Feast of Trumpets. A feast that foreshadows the Messiah returning and bringing His Bride to be with Him forever. Now, let’s even add another layer to this: the Bride of the Lamb is described as the New Jerusalem. We are going up to Heaven to enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in the New Jerusalem that will one day be on this Earth. Nehemiah and his people returned to their Promised Land on the first day of Tishrei, the Feast of Trumpets, and one day we will be taken up to our Promised Land when our Savior returns.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Look Back & Look Forward.