Back in the box?

Laura Digan January 23, 2022 0 2

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Nehemiah 8: 1-10 (NRSVA)

1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lordhad given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’

“Oh no don't you put me in that box

You know what you can do with those locks

Bet your life I'll come crawling out again

You'll have to deal with me then

You'll hear me in the wind.”

From ‘Houdini Blues’, Kristin Hersh 

These lyrics are from one of my favourite songs by the musician Kristin Hersh. These words came into my mind as I reflected on today’s scripture. In Nehemiah we have a beautiful picture of people coming together to read, interpret, learn and understand God’s word.

And I thought about how last year we had people from all around the world come together in Glasgow for COP26, to listen to each other, learn from each other, interpret information so we could as a human race have a plan of action to tackle the effects of climate change. 

For the months building to COP26 climate change and care for the environment was a focus for our politicians, the media, even in our churches. I joined with other Christians from around the country in a weekly online course titled ‘Faith, Hope and Climate Change.’ We were encouraged to share with our churches all that we learned. There was a sense of hope from campaigners and activists that priorities were shifting and that caring for the environment of our planet was going to be key for humanity going forward. 

And then post COP26 the focus has shifted elsewhere. People came together but we didn’t learn, we didn’t interpret the information and we didn’t understand. It’s as if care for our planet, God’s amazing creation, has been put in a box and locked away. We will think about it some other time. But we can bet that climate change and the damage we are inflicting on our environment won’t stay hidden in the box. It will come crawling back out again and we will have to deal with it then. 

PRAYER:

Dear Father of All Creation,

Open our hearts and our minds to the groaning of your creation. 

Activate within us a desire to care and nurture the planet you made for us and all the life that lives upon her. 

Amen