Today is the 14th day of August. Welcome to the daily audio Bible. I am Brian.

It's wonderful to be here with you today as we gather, move into this week,

step forward, and reveal God through the stories that we are telling with our lives.

And so let's move into our reading for today as we look into the lives of those who told God's story before us.

Today our journey leads us back into the book of Nehemiah where we are traveling alongside the returned exiles who are rebuilding in Jerusalem.

Today, Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 1 through 9 verse 21.

All the people gathered together in the plaza which was in front of the water gates.

They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded Israel.

So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard.

This happened on the first day of the seventh month.

So he read it before the plaza in front of the water gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand.

All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.

Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform constructed for this purpose.

Standing near him on his right were Mathetaya, Shima, Anaya, Yeraya, Pilkia, and Meassia.

On his left were Padaya, Michelle, Melkajah, Hashum, Hashpedana, Zakiraya, and Mashulam.

Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people for he was elevated above all the people.

When he opened the book all the people stood up.

Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people replied, Amen!

Amen as they lifted their hands.

Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Jashua, Bani, Cherabaya, Jamin, Akub, Japatai, Odaya, Meassia, Calita, Aziraya, Josephad, Anan, and Pilkia.

All of whom were Levites were teaching the people of the law as the people remained standing.

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