Nehemiah 8:9-10 Joy of the LORD

Nehemiah 8:9-10  “Then 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 were weeping when they heard the words of the law.  Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’" (NASB)

Chris Tomlin wrote a song of praise I have heard on the radio and we sing occasionally in church.  The phrase, “The joy of the LORD is our strength” is embedded in the lyrics.  Take a quick look at the whole song:

We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength
We bow down and worship Him now
How great, how awesome is He
And together we sing
[Chorus]
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory

It's rising up all around
It's the anthem of the Lord's renown
Repeat
And together we sing,
Everyone sing
[ Repeat Chorus]

           

The origin of the phrase, “The joy of the LORD is our strength” comes from Nehemiah 8 and it is this story that I’d like to hone in on.  This phrase actually comes as a part of a comforting word Nehemiah and Ezra gave to the people.  The people had all gathered in Jerusalem after returning from captivity and re-building their homes.  They came to Jerusalem to celebrate their delivery from that captivity; to give thanks to the Lord.  The people called on Ezra to read the Law of Moses to them.  They were all assembled to hear the reading of God’s Word and the explanation or interpretation of that Word.

Their reaction to the reading of the Law was one of grief.  They were convicted of their own sins at the reading of God's holy Law.  The passage says, “For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law”.  In other words, the Law did what it is intended to do.  It caused them to compare their sinful lives to God’s holy standard.  In comparison they fell far short.  That is what motivated their sorrow.

But the Lord desires that once convicted of sin and deal with it properly that they not go on in perpetual grief.  In this case, the Lord’s message to the people is, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep”.  This day was to be a celebration so they are instructed to,  "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord”.  The people are told to celebrate, to feast and to share that feast with others that can’t provide for themselves.

Finally he says, ”Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”.

Why joy?  Joy can only be found when in a right relationship with God.  Only real grief can produce real joy.  That sorrow from hearing the Law read produced thankful and contrite hearts.  In that position they were able to hear God; they were able to be responsive to what He asked.  They were mold-able; teachable.  In that condition they found strength.  The strength only the grace of God can provide is what they received.

This model of grief leading to joy is the same for us.  Only when we are humbled by the conviction of our sin in relation to God’s holy standard can He reach us.  When we stand convicted of our sin we realize that only God’s grace can help us.  We are able to accept the free gift of salvation offered by His own shed blood when we are in that humble state.  Without the sorrow of conviction there is no joy because we will never come to Him.  The Holy Spirit's conviction brings us to a place where we can be reached; we can be saved.  “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength”.  AMEN!

If you are in grief over your behavior in relation to the holiness of God I would be happy to talk with you about Jesus Christ and His desire to bring joy into your life.  Please contact me.