Nehemiah 7, 8

When Ezra, perched atop a wooden platform near Jerusalem’s Water Gate, began openly reading the Book of the Law of Moses, the people all stood and gave acute attention. They even stood through the pouring rain. They wept when they heard its contents. Then, the Joy of the Lord overwhelmed them and they feasted and enjoyed the reward of obeying God’s Word.

I have seen many preachers ask the congregants to stand for the reading of God’s Word when a sermon begins. To me this is a gesture of reverence for God’s Word and would be a spiritually healthy practice for New Testament Christians. When Christ Jesus began quoting Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, he rose up to stand before the people. When Peter made his famous Day of Pentecost speech in Acts 2, he and the eleven all stood up before the crowd in Jerusalem. When Paul made his witness of the Gospel to the Athenian philosophers at Mars Hill, he stood boldly to address them.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the cross.