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ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (V)
TUESDAY, MARCH 10
Nehemiah 9:1-3

Acts 2:42; 6:1-7

 

“…we will give ourselves
continually to prayer, and

to the ministry of the word.”

 

ELEMENTS OF CONGREGATIONAL SERVICE (V)
 
The congregational gathering in Nehemiah 9 was in response to the Word that was read and expounded during the gathering for the feast of tabernacles. This gathering, like the one for the commanded feast, turned its attention and focus to the Word of God. A congregational gathering that deliberately and consistently neglects the Word of God, or emphasises and focuses on any other thing at the expense of the reading and exposition of the Word of God, cannot be rightly termed a Christian congregational gathering.
 
And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God (Neh 9:3). As in Nehemiah 8, the record draws our attention to the Scriptures. The commitment, attentiveness and patience of the congregation towards the Word is unmistakable for they spent “one fourth part of the day” (Neh 9:3) attending to the words of “the book of the law.” It had been read to them from the first day (Neh 8:2), and the leaders had sought it out “on the second day” (Neh 8:13). And again during the seven days of the feast, it was read “day by day, from the first day unto the last day” (Neh 8:18). Now, they “stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God” (Neh 9:3).
 
And another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God (Neh 9:3). The “seeker-friendly” mentality of today’s church has done much harm, and has robbed the church of its true worship. The biblical devotion to Scripture naturally leads to prayerful worship. The New Testament church sought to maintain this focus and balance in light of the growing duties and responsibilities in Acts 6. Duties were distributed such that all would serve together under a system that would still put the emphasis of the life of the Christian community on prayer and the ministry of the Word. The prayer life of the people of God is born out of the right understanding of the Word of God. And a congregation that is centred on the Word of God demonstrates both a right worship of God and a practical obedience to God that is drawn from God’s revelation in Scripture.
 
THOUGHT: Spirit-led worship is in fact Scripture-based worship.

PRAYER: (Use Psalm 43:3-4.)

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