Elder 1: Ezra is moving up on my list of favorite characters in the OT
Elder 2: Me too! #Neh.8 – – – > Nehemiah and Ezra said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. They said, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” …“Stop your pedantic penance! Stop your sanctimonious traditionalism! Stop your performative shallow asceticism and scrupulosity! Stop your punctilious proceduralism! Forsake your niggling, nagging, view of ‘holiness’ and embrace the view of holiness promoted by Jesus of Nazareth! And relish the fact that THIS DAY is HOLY; therefore DO NOT be grave and grieved!” [italics represent paraphrasing & metaphrasing of Nehemiah chapter 8; and a very sincere and substantive faithfulness to the emphasis of the precise wording and salience and priorities of Nehemiah chapter 8]. And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.