Four hours.

Standing.

No chairs. No bathroom breaks. No coffee runs.

Just standing there, listening to the Word of God being read.

I read that, and I'm blown away. I'm humbled. Because if I'm being honest, I don't know if I could do it.

When the Book Was Opened, the People Stood

Nehemiah 8:5 And Ezra opened 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:

Picture it.

Ezra is on a platform. He's holding the book, the Word of God. Everyone can see him. And when he opens it, something happens.

They all stand up.

Not because someone told them to. Not because it was tradition. Not because they were trying to impress anybody.

They stood up because they knew who was about to speak.

This wasn't a ritual. This was reverence.

They Knew Who Was Talking

Here's what gets me: they stood there for four hours.

Four. Hours.

Their legs had to hurt. Their backs had to ache. They had to be uncomfortable.

But they stayed.

They listened attentively. They paid attention. They focused, not because it was easy, but because they believed they were hearing from God.

That's the difference.

They didn't stand because the bulletin said to stand. They stood because they understood what was happening: God was speaking.

And when God speaks, you don't slouch.

I'm Not Sure I Could Have Done It

I read this passage, and I have to be honest with myself.

I don't think I could have done what they did.

Four hours? Standing? Listening?

I get restless after a 30-minute sermon.

I check my phone. I think about lunch. I let my mind wander to the week ahead.

And I'm supposed to be the one teaching people to love the Bible.

But that's exactly why this story hits me so hard. It exposes something in me, and maybe in all of us.

We've lost respect for the Word of God.

Not intentionally. Not because we hate it.

We've just gotten comfortable. Casual. Distracted.

We treat the Bible like background noise instead of the voice of the living God.

What Respect Actually Looks Like

Real respect for the Bible isn't about standing during the Scripture reading at church (though there's nothing wrong with that).

Real respect is:

Paying attention when it's being taught: even when it's uncomfortable.

Putting it into practice: not just underlining verses.

Making yourself listen when your mind wants to wander: because you know who is talking.

Being willing to be uncomfortable if that's what it takes to hear God clearly.

The people in Nehemiah 8 didn't have comfy chairs or air conditioning. They didn't have the luxury of tuning out.

They stood. They listened. They let the Word do its work.

And it changed them.

Let's Show Some Respect

I don't need more rituals.

I don't need to make the Bible into some kind of religious performance.

But I do need to lift the Word of God back to where it belongs: above my opinions, above my convenience, above my comfort.

I need to remember that when I open this book, I'm not just reading words on a page.

I'm hearing from God.

And if that's true: if the God of the universe is actually speaking: then maybe I should pay attention.

Maybe I should be willing to be a little uncomfortable.

Maybe I should stand.

Not physically (though you can if you want).

But spiritually.

With my heart. With my focus. With my obedience.

It's Not About Perfection: It's About Position

Here's the good news: this isn't about measuring up.

God doesn't love you more if you memorize more verses or sit through a four-hour sermon.

This is about recognizing what you're holding when you open the Bible.

It's the Word of the living God. And He's speaking to you: not to shame you, not to measure you, but to guide you, to comfort you, to transform you.

You don't have to be perfect to respect the Word.

You just have to be present.

And when you position yourself to really listen: when you quiet the noise, turn off the distractions, and let God speak: everything changes.

That's what happened in Nehemiah 8. The people stood. They listened. And revival broke out.

Not because they earned it.

But because they honored the Word.

A Pastoral Close

Friend, I'm not writing this from a place of perfection.

I'm writing this from a place of need.

I need more reverence. I need to lift the Word higher in my life. I need to put it into practice rather than just talk about it.

And maybe you do too.

So let's do it together.

Let's turn off the phone. Let's open the Bible. Let's listen: really listen: as our lives depend on it.

Because they do.

Want to go deeper in your walk with God? Check out my story of cancer, COVID, and God's relentless mercy at waustingardner.com/w-austin-gardner. And if you're hungry for more grace-centered teaching, read The Big Leap of Faith: Believing God Loves You Exactly as You Are.

You can also listen to the Followed by Mercy podcast at followedbymercy.buzzsprout.com or subscribe on YouTube at @waustingardner.

FAQ: Respect for the Word of God



Why did the people in Nehemiah 8:5 stand for four hours?

They stood because they recognized they were hearing the Word of God, not just a nice speech. Their physical discomfort was secondary to their reverence for Scripture. It wasn't a ritual: it was a response to who was speaking.

How can I show more respect for the Bible in my daily life?

Start by making time to read it without distractions: turn off your phone, close the laptop, and really listen. Then put what you read into practice. Respect isn't just about how you hold the Bible; it's about how you obey it.

Does God expect me to stand for four hours like the people in Nehemiah?

No. God isn't asking for physical endurance contests. He's asking for a heart that honors His Word above convenience, distraction, and comfort. The "standing" that matters is the posture of your heart: are you willing to listen, even when it's uncomfortable?