The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Nehemiah 8:10b,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
These words were spoken to the people by Nehemiah as he observed their response to the reading of the Scriptures, "the Law". Upon hearing what the Lord had to say through Moses and considering the response of the nation to the Lord over the generations, the people wept. "For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law." verse 9b.
While national sorrow might have been very appropriate (it certainly would be for our nation today!), Nehemiah pointed out this day of the reading of the Law was "holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." Instead, Nehemiah instructed them to, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared." Verse 10a.
The response of the people was wonderful. "Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." Verse 12.
This morning I think of that phrase, "the joy of the Lord is your strength." It appears to me that if we are not experiencing a joy from our becoming a child of God, if we are not experiencing a joy from knowing we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ, if we are not experiencing a joy from the anticipation of what will be ours in the resurrection, maybe we need the Scriptures read to us. We are missing out on our strength the joy of the Lord provides!
Possibly in a quest to make sure we get all things theologically correct, we at times overlook the most amazing and wonderful realities of our new life in Jesus Christ. These are the things that should bring us a profound joy -- a joy Nehemiah wanted the folks to experience as they now understood what the Lord had to say to the nation.
In the words of Peter, "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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