How Does Your Schedule Look?

On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. They remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the LORD their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the LORD their God. The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani—stood on the stairway of the Levites and cried out to the LORD their God with loud voices. Then the leaders of the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah—called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the LORD your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed: “May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! [Nehemiah 9.1-5]

Of the times in the Bible that we have some insight into the timeframe of a corporate assembly of God's people, here in Nehemiah we have one such time.

Following a time of fasting (not sure how long) they assembled and stood on their feet for three hours simply listening to God's Word. That all by itself is miraculous compared to today's standards!

Then, the people entered a time of confession and worship. This apparently took place bowing, kneeling, or sitting. I would think, more likely than not, it was bowing.

Afterwards, the people were instructed by their leaders to stand back up and praise the LORD. It was here they (the leaders as best I can tell) began to declare all the things God had done.

No doubt, this was a long meeting!

It just strikes me odd that "in Christ" our conviction for this type of devotion is non-existent.

We acknowledge that fasting is good and necessary. We acknowledge that reading of the Word is good and necessary. We acknowledge that confession and worship are good and necessary. And, we acknowledge that prayer and preaching (declaration of all God has done by leaders) is good and necessary. 

So, how can we basically accomplish this corporate assembly today in less that two hours? Does grace miraculously cause us to know God and His Word without need for hearing/reciting it in a three-hour period? Does grace negate the need for confession and worship in three-hour segments?

One might argue, "well, that was Old Testament..." Okay, true enough... But what about what Jesus said then in John 5.39?

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

In light of what Jesus said in John 5.39. there is no excuse for the lackadaisical devotion found among "believers" today. There devotion described in Nehemiah's writing today no doubt involved calendar-clearing commitment.

How does your schedule look?

Father, help me to understand the time commitment of Your people of long ago to comprehend how that correlates to the time commitment of Your people today...(if there is any correlation!).