There are a number of themes in Nehemiah 8. We learn about the importance of the Word of God as we seek to live lives that are pleasing to Him. How the reading of the word leads to repentance and worship. How understanding and applying the word leads to joy. Of how we, like OT Israel are called to be a pilgrim people, a people who are not at home here.
But we are also reminded, through the Feast of Tabernacles, which we read more of in Leviticus 23, that we are to be thankful to our faithful God for His provision in the harvest. But living in a city, where our food comes from the supermarket, it is very easy to become detached from God as the source of our food
As someone who has just started growing some of their own vegetables I have been very aware of just how much we rely on God for a good crop. Too much rain, not enough rain, too many harmful insects, not enough of the right sort of insects...they all have an impact on the harvest.
Let us be truly thankful for God's goodness and provision.
