For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Ezra tore his clothes when he heard about the Israelites being unfaithful to God by disobeying the command not to intermarry with the other tribes and peoples who lived around them.

No one knows exactly where, when, or why this custom started, but many cultures have similar traditions of making some kind of small personal and tangible sacrifice as a way of expressing emotional loss and grief. The first tunic-tearing in the Bible is recorded in Genesis 37:29 when Reuben found out his younger brother Joseph was carried off to Egypt. The second is in verse 34 when Jacob tore his clothes upon hearing the lie that Joseph was dead. Other Old Testament robe rippers include David, Elisha, and Job. Even the apostle Paul, hundreds of years later, tore his clothes in despair (Acts 14:14). What do you do to show you’re sad?

Imagine that someone gives you a very expensive piece of furniture that has parts to be assembled and must be cared for in a particular way. Along with the gift of that furniture, they also give you an instruction book that sets out everything you need to know about taking care of the furniture. And then you put that instruction book on a shelf and never look at it, and eventually over time the furniture gets damaged and falls apart. Seems like a shame, doesn’t it?
That is kind of how we behave sometimes about God’s Word. God has given us this incredible gift of life and the hope of eternal life with Him. And He’s given us His Word, with so much in it that tells us how to live and grow and serve Him. Yet we often put His Word on a shelf and forget about it.
This week, remember to think about reading God’s Word as an act of daily worship. Set aside ten minutes every day to read His Word. Think about it as a source of wisdom that will help us maintain the beautiful gift God has given us.