UNDERSTANDING ACTIVATES THE WORD

DAY 278

Reference text: Nehemiah 8:1-12

Today’s text reminded me of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts chapter 8 who sat in his carriage reading the book of Isaiah. It was to him Philip appeared and asked ‘Do you understand what you’re reading?’ To this he replied ‘How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?”Philip was thus invited to explain the Scriptures to him (Acts 8:29-32).

The story of Israel hearing the words of the law was one characterised by three distinct ministries: Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites, who helped the people to understand the law.
The ministry of the Levites was what accounted for this outcome “

They went away rejoicing because they had understood what was declared to them"(Nehemiah 8:12).

You can hear a lot of things and they will not profit you because profiting comes from the accurate communication of instruction, clarity of what is communicated and engaging with it appropriately. Thus, understanding is a necessary requirement to benefit from the word of God.

Otherwise, all you will see is nothing other than a collection of Historic accounts. But as the writer of Hebrew puts it, ‘the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

It takes the ministry of the Holy Spirit, through our understanding, to activate the life of the Word within us.

#sly