PART A - UNDERSTANDEST THOU WHAT THOU READEST - VOL 4

The lack of understanding of how to interpret the Scriptures, obviously, is the foundation of erroneous doctrines and practices. As often emphasized in the series of this study, once one’s understanding of the Scriptures is wrong, it would definitely affect such abeliever’s worship of YHWH.This again brings to the fore, that pertinent question from Stephen to the Ethiopianeunuch…understandest thou what thou readest…Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said,Understandest thou what thou readest?The phrase “Understandest thou what thou readest” from Phillip to the Ethiopian eunuch,obviously brings to the fore the invaluable importance of accurately interpreting the Scriptures. In the book of Nehemiah, we see a perfect example of the same.Nehemiah 8:1-8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the streetthat was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD hadcommanded to Israel. Vs 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that couldhear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. Vs 3 And he read therein before the street that was before thewater gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all thepeople were attentive unto the book of the law. Vs 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for thepurpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Vs 5 And Ezraopened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: Vs 6And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Vs 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand thelaw: and the people stood in their place. Vs 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and causedthem to understand the reading.Notice from the above narrative, Nehemiah described Ezra as a scribe (in verse 1) and a priest, who brought the book of the Law ofMoses before the congregation of the children of Israel (in verve 2). Read more