We too are living in days where it feels like things are being ravaged but perhaps we dare to hope that God is up to something... Something more amazing than we can even shake a stick at in our wildest imaginations. The people in Nehemiah and Ezra's day were crushed but drawn to the Word of the Lord that was being DECLARED over them at a central location (the Water Gate - see Neh. 8:1). The all understood the Word being declared because it taught plainly and because it is God's delight to reveal His Word to the hungry heart.
Do you believe that deeply and desperately in these days? I pray you do, because it is the first step toward making the Joy of the Lord your Strength! ALL UNDERSTOOD... Now what about ALL REJOICING?
Note the transition in Nehemiah 8:9 "...Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law."
Why command them not to weep? Well, it was the first day of the 7th month (Neh. 8:3) in which they celebrated the Day of Atonement (a time when sin was taken care of by sacrifice of an animal Leviticus 16:29-31) and the Feast of Booths (a time when they recalled the shabby dwellings they had while in the wilderness after the Exodus thru the Red Sea).
The people were hearing the Word declared and their hearts were heavy with conviction because they had abandoned it. Pause... What is God speaking to you right now regarding His Word and your understanding of it?
Evading conviction when sitting under His Word is not an art, its rebellion.
Nehemiah and Ezra warn the people by saying (paraphrased) "Guys, this is not the time for lament but celebration. If you weep and are grieved you would be thinking of yourselves. THINK on Him. Worship Him. His Joy (delight in you) is your strength!"
Nehemiah 8:10 "And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
"Joy" and its synonyms appear over 400x in the bible. "Strength" is translated as "refuge" in Psalm 62:5-7.
The Word of God brings conviction and leads to repentance, but it also brings us joy; for the same Word that wounds also heals.
The Joy of the Lord is our strength ONLY because of the Grace of Jesus
What about you?
What is your refuge? Where do you run?
- The kickstarter for JOY is WORSHIP. Celebrate what He secured!
- Just because your deliverance is hard does not mean that your God isn't good.
Hope to see you tomorrow for the third part...
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