God’s word formed the world. God’s word formed Israel at Sinai. God’s word promised a new exodus and return from exile. God’s word set the people free from Babylon. Once free, now returned to the land with the walls rebuilt, the people look to God’s Word to form them anew. This is what we see when the people ask Ezra to bring the book: When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, all the people gathered together at the square in front