Great importance concerning the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is recorded in Nehemiah 8.  The consistent pattern emerges once again.  When the people return to God with repentant hearts, what follows is a reinstitution of one of God’s Holy Days, most often Feast of Tabernacles. More details later on the e-study for the significance of the Feast of Tabernacles for Christians today. 

It was on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Rosh Hashana) when Ezra read the law.  The assembly listening to the reading of the law was made up of men, women and all who were able to understand.  Guess that means there were some children there who could understand.  

Neh 8:5-6
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 

What might happen if when God’s word is read, the people would raise their hands in praise, say “Amen”, and bow down in worship to God? 

The Levites interpreted the law and made it clear so the people could understand. Since several names were listed in the group of Levites, wonder if they were out in the crowd in small groups.  The people celebrated with great joy, because they understood the words that were read to them. Do we rejoice when we understand the words in Scripture?

On the day of confession, there were people there from Israelite descent, not just the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the Levites.  So there was a remnant of all the 12 tribes represented there. 

Nehemiah prays a great confessional prayer in which he reminds the people and thanks God for all He has done for them and for continually forgiving them. There was an “attitude of gratitude” created.  The people responded by agreeing to a written covenant. We could certainly take lessons from Nehemiah!