"No book has ever seen this much ... excitement."

"No book has ever seen this much ... excitement around the world." Certainly the book in question must be the Bible? I'm afraid not. According to CNN.com, J.K. Rowling's book is more popular than God's. Well ... I think CNN may be overstating the case a bit (sorry Ted); nevertheless, the buzz around the tale of this Adolscent Wizard speaks loudly about where we are as a culture.

This is how CNN describes the hysteria, "No book has ever seen this much fever-pitch anticipation and excitement around the world. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is about to launch at 12:01am in London. I head down to Waterstone's near Piccadilly Circus -- it's one of Europe's largest bookstores and is famous for its big Harry Potter parties. Well this is more than a big party. It's a Potter Universe let loose on London's streets. There are thousands here, all joining in the fun. Some of the people I speak to have traveled from Sydney, Jerusalem and Boston just to be here for the big launch. It's Friday night and a group of fans have camped out for three days."

I can't help but see the parallels between this event Nehemiah's account of a hysteria of another kind. Nehemiah 8: 1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people 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. 10 Then he said to them, "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." 12 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.

May the Lord awaken us from our slumber.