The Pastor's Place

I often quote a portion of Nehemiah 8:10 without considering the context of his statement: "Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” 

Verse 9 reveals that the people responded to the public reading of the Law with mourning and weeping.  Nehemiah, the priests, and Levites encouraged them by declaring a sacred day of celebration before the Lord.  Why would the people respond this way?  Because the Law revealed how far Israel had rebelled against God's standards.  They wept with great sorrow and repentance. They wept because they heard God's Word understood it's meaning!

While this response was important, the leaders knew that it was equally important to remember the God who gave the Law and to recognize that He is "a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love" (9:17). 

God takes great joy in His people. Repentance, restoration and revival are integral parts of His plan.  HIS joy becomes OUR strength when we respond to His discipline and instruction and when we walk in obedience to His Word!

Labels: Joy