Yesterday I was at church for about 5 1/2 hours. Arrived at 7:00 for worship team practice . . . 1st meeting started at 8:30 . . . done by 9:45 . . . some good fellowship and catch-up time until 10:30 . . . then 2nd service . . . wrapped up about 11:45 . . . some more chat time . . . and outta’ there around 12:20. A good morning . . . time flew by. So why the preoccupation with yesterday morning’s timeline? Because I’m trying to get a sense of how long the people of Israel assembled in my reading this morning . . . for them it was 6 hours . . . and for them, most of it was spent on their feet.

“And [the Israelites] stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God. Then the Levites . . . said, ‘Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.'” (Nehemiah 9:3, 5 ESV)

I’m trying to imagine that. Three hours (one quarter of a twelve hour day) standing as the Bible is read . . . that would have been from 7 to 10 yesterday. Then another three hours responding to the Word with confession and worship . . . 10 to 1. Mmmmm . . . that would have been different. Kind of easy putting in almost 6 hours when there’s a variety of activities . . . but to listen for three hours to a Bible reading (could you read Genesis to Deuteronomy aloud in three hours?) . . . and then to react to what you heard for three more hours . . . that sounds like a bit of a marathon to me. And the other thing I notice that kind of captures the imagination is that they didn’t need chairs. For most of the six hours they were standing . . . and, I’m guessing when they weren’t standing, they were on their face in confession and worship.

There was revival going on in post-exile Jerusalem. Stuff was happening . . . not only was the temple being rebuilt . . . and the walls of the city were being rebuilt . . . but the people of God were being rebuilt, as well. The Word of God had been rediscovered. This wasn’t their first marathon session with the Word. In Nehemiah 8, it records another gathering of people to hear Ezra read the word “from early morning until midday” . . . the “ears of the people were attentive to the Book of the Law” . . . “and they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (8:3, 6). And at that gathering, as in Nehemiah 9, when Ezra “opened the book in the sight of all the people . . . all the people stood” (8:5).

Something about getting to your feet which shows respect and reverence. Something about standing that says “I’m ready . . . I’m here . . . bring it on!” Something about it that shows desire. Something about being erect for six hours that has “Spirit Induced Revival!” stamped all over it.

I’m not advocating “no chairs” for Sunday morning service (might be interesting to try some time, though). What I am captured by is the hunger and thirst and willingness to receive and to respond to the Word of God. I’m intrigued by such a moving of the Spirit that people think less about their personal comfort and, instead, only want more of what God has for them. I’m a bit in awe of three hours of confession and worship . . . now that’s a major “closing song!” I’m trying to imagine what’s going on in the heart that makes an assembly of God’s people stand in anticipation and adoration.

Oh that God would again move His people to stand up! That I might head out Sunday mornings eagerly anticipating the Word being read and preached. That I might not critique the presentation but cry out for it’s power to impact me. That I might not keep looking at my watch but be solely focused on the Word. That I might not respond with mindless singing but instead resound with awe-filled worship and praise.

I’m not sure I’m up for a six hour service . . . but that I might, by the grace of God and the moving of Spirit, engage fully in the 60 minutes or so when I’m gathered with God’s people to hear God’s voice and sing God’s worth. I like our chairs . . . not sure I’d sell them on e-Bay just yet . . . but that I might be standing up on the inside . . . moved by the Spirit of God . . . desiring to receive . . . desiring to respond.

For my blessing . . . for His glory . . . Stand Up!