It had been a long time since Israel had felt joy…
For, the Babylonians had conquered Judah in 586 BC. And then, some fifty years later, Persia conquered Babylon and granted the Jews permission to return to Jerusalem.
But to what? For the Babylonians had destroyed the city, and by 445 BC, the challenges of rebuilding their homeland had demoralized the Jews.
So, for 141 years, the Jews had known sadness.
But there was one who would not sit idly by while the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruin – and that was a Jew by the name of Nehemiah who, by God’s grace, had been appointed as governor of Judah by the king of Persia. And so, with the king’s permission, and in the face of great opposition, he set out to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem with others – and succeeded!
And when all the people who had returned gathered before one of the gates of the city, Ezra the priest read the law of Moses. And their response? Well, they lifted up their hands and said, “Amen, Amen” and then they … wept. Why? Because they felt deep conviction for not having kept the law. And this is when Ezra said, “This day (which was the Feast of Trumpets) is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep. Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. And we are told that “all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” (see Nehemiah 8 ESV).
There is a time for conviction, sorrow and repentance …
And there is also a time for joy in the Lord …
And God’s Word can bring both.
But, for the purpose of this writing I want to comment on how, for us too, the joy of the Lord can be our strength. Now, that’s an interesting idea, isn’t it? That joy in God and His Word can give strength? But indeed, it can! For as we think about God, and read our Bibles, He graciously brings us joy! And joy strengthens our spirits and helps us to press on with strength for the day(s) ahead.
Now, we may not have any walls to rebuild, but we have all suffered loss. So, what should we do? Should we dwell in misery? Or should pick up our Bibles, read about our great God, and allow our joy in Him to become our strength?
In think you know my answer …
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Rob