Turn with me in the Scriptures please this evening to the book of Nehemiah chapter 8 and 1 Peter chapter 1.

In Nehemi 8 verse 9, Nehemi 8 verse 9, we see this passage is describing when the people of God, under the leadership

of Nehemi, got back to God.

The people had been away from God, when you might say backslid, and been away, they hadn't heard

the word and they hadn't been practicing his decrees.

But they had a day where they came out the whole congregation, everybody, men, women, children,

everybody are standing out there.

And this is an all-day thing.

And they read, just read the Bible, the Bible they had for half a day.

And you think our services go up.

And then the ministers talked about it for hours and hours.

And Nehemi, which is the Tushatha and Ezra, the priest, the scribe, the Levites, taught to people.

And they said to all the people, this day is holy to the Lord your God, mourn not nor weep.

For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.

When they heard the word, what they were supposed to have been doing,

and realized how far off they were, and that they hadn't been doing it, there was mourning

and crying throughout the congregation.

But Nehemi and the priest and Levites said, no, stop crying.

Stop crying.

Verse 10.

Then he said to them, go your way, eat to fat, drink the sweet, send portions to them

for whom nothing is prepared.

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