by Jerry Senn
“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
The context of this familiar statement took place as Israel gathered for a New Year’s celebration during their work of rebuilding the walls of their beloved city, Jerusalem. Ezra the priest stood on a high wooden platform and read the Law to the people for many hours as they stood in rapt attention.
“Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and the teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn and weep. For the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.”
“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’” (vv 9-10).
I’m not sure we know all the reasons the people were shedding tears and grieving. It’s likely they were convicted of their past sins and failures as the Law was read and explained. Perhaps those tears were justified. But, the occasion called for rejoicing instead. When they understood this they were comforted and rejoiced together (v 12).
There’s a place and occasion for expressing our sorrow for sin. In fact, true repentance involves experiencing a broken heart before God. However, once forgiven, David asked the Lord to “restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12).
As Nehemiah dealt with the situation in our text, he said, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
We all deal with “ups and downs” in mood and inner strength. It is so important to allow our spirits to be lifted by focusing on our amazing blessings in Christ—forgiveness, acceptance and peace!!!
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy:
‘I dwell in the high and holy place,
And also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
To receive the spirit of the holy,
And to revive the heart of the contrite’”
(Isaiah 57:15)
ONE JOY DISPELS A HUNDRED CARES !!!