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The reform after the exile involved the rebuilding of the wall, the Temple, and worship, a religious reawakening.
After they had all settled in their towns, the people assembled with a unified purpose on the first day of the seventh month and asked Ezra to read the book of the Law to them
This reading of the law by Ezra facilitated a national confession of sins and the making of an agreement that would foster worship
This assembly consisted of men and women, and all the children were old enough to understand
As he opened the book, they rose to their feet and praised God, and the reading started from early morning until noon.
The Levites also participated by clearly explaining the meaning of what was being read and helping the people understand each passage
Even though repentance was an appropriate response, Nehemiah urged the people not to mourn but rejoice
Paul’s letter to the Romans talked about humanity’s exile due to sin, the shortfall of the law, and the works of Jesus as the rescuer of both Jews and Gentiles
Paul, therefore, urges believers, because of all God had done for them, to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God
Not just the physical body, but dedicating all of yourselves, for this is the believers’ true and proper worship
He also instructed that believers must not copy the behavior and customs of this world, because the pattern of thinking and living of this present age is evil
Instead, believers are to let God transform them into a new person by changing the way they think
This will open the door to learn to know God’s good and perfect will for them
Each man should not think highly of himself, but subject himself to an honest evaluation using the faith God had given him as the yardstick