#571 Finding Joy Part 2b: The Joy of the LORD is your Strength: Eat and Drink!
Recap of the background of Nehemiah 8: After they completed building the Jerusalem wall the people gathered together and heard the reading of the Law. Ezra read from the book from early morning until midday. Then the Levites read from the book, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-8
The people were grieved and weeping, (Nehemiah 8:9,11) for they saw their historical and present inattention to the commandments and admonitions given to them by God. (Nehemiah 9:32-34) In response to their grief Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites instructed the people: “ ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.’” Nehemiah 8:9,11 They were instructed to eat of the feast, to send portions to those who had nothing prepared, “for this day in holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 “And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.” Nehemiah 8:12
A lesson for us: “Go, eat the fat, drink of the sweet…” 8:10 To experience the joy of the Lord we must first partake of the spiritual food and drink with the result of renewing our minds. A state of sorrow leaves us paralyzed. Our strength is not in our focus on our faults—our strength is in the joy of the LORD, the true repentance focused on His will which motivates the heart to go forward with change according to the holy motivation at work in us. Philippians 2:12-13 and Principle of Isaiah 12
Part of the joy of the LORD is the understanding of His Word and Will—the joy of being shown—of understanding His will and how to go forward to fulfill it. He helps us to see our falling short. He helps us to understand the next steps of holiness. “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul…The precepts of the LORD are right, REJOICING the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward...keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me…let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:7-14
We open the book each day, and each day he opens our hearts to understand and to be willing to go forward in that understanding. We can celebrate as we go forward with renewed thinking and spiritual energy. It is His joy to forgive, to patiently lead, and to reveal the Truth we need, and as these become ours, His joy give us strength. When we partake of His Truth we are energized to see as He sees. What a joy to see through His eyes of Wisdom and Love!
“I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Thy precepts, and regard Thy ways. I shall delight in Thy statues; I shall not forget Thy word.” Psalm 119:9-16!
Recap of the background of Nehemiah 8: After they completed building the Jerusalem wall the people gathered together and heard the reading of the Law. Ezra read from the book from early morning until midday. Then the Levites read from the book, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-8
The people were grieved and weeping, (Nehemiah 8:9,11) for they saw their historical and present inattention to the commandments and admonitions given to them by God. (Nehemiah 9:32-34) In response to their grief Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites instructed the people: “ ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.’” Nehemiah 8:9,11 They were instructed to eat of the feast, to send portions to those who had nothing prepared, “for this day in holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 “And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.” Nehemiah 8:12
A lesson for us: “Go, eat the fat, drink of the sweet…” 8:10 To experience the joy of the Lord we must first partake of the spiritual food and drink with the result of renewing our minds. A state of sorrow leaves us paralyzed. Our strength is not in our focus on our faults—our strength is in the joy of the LORD, the true repentance focused on His will which motivates the heart to go forward with change according to the holy motivation at work in us. Philippians 2:12-13 and Principle of Isaiah 12
Part of the joy of the LORD is the understanding of His Word and Will—the joy of being shown—of understanding His will and how to go forward to fulfill it. He helps us to see our falling short. He helps us to understand the next steps of holiness. “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul…The precepts of the LORD are right, REJOICING the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward...keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me…let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:7-14
We open the book each day, and each day he opens our hearts to understand and to be willing to go forward in that understanding. We can celebrate as we go forward with renewed thinking and spiritual energy. It is His joy to forgive, to patiently lead, and to reveal the Truth we need, and as these become ours, His joy give us strength. When we partake of His Truth we are energized to see as He sees. What a joy to see through His eyes of Wisdom and Love!
“I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Thy precepts, and regard Thy ways. I shall delight in Thy statues; I shall not forget Thy word.” Psalm 119:9-16!
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