Thursday, Dec. 13 — Joy as Strength

Have you heard the verse, “the joy of the LORD is your strength“?  Do you know where it comes from, or why it was said?

It is found in the book of Nehemiah.  Nehemiah is the story of the Israelite who in exile won favor with King Artaxerxes as his cupbearer and was appointed governor of Jerusalem.  He was able to influence this pagan king to allow him to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and and begin repairs on the Temple.  Other Old Testament characters included in this rebuilding process were Ezra the scribe and priest and Zechariah the prophet.

The rebuilding of the wall was important for the safety of the city and for the self-identity of the people.  Nehemiah devised a  plan that involved everyone who lived in Jerusalem to help.  People were to work on the wall closest to their homes.

In Nehemiah 8 there is an interruption in the work as Ezra, the scribe and priest, called the people together in a great assembly by the Water Gate.

 2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

 4Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

 What was happening?  The people of Israel were hearing the Word of God read.  Ezra surrounded himself with the religious leaders of the time.  They read God’s word to small groups of people.  For some, it was the first time they had heard about God’s expectations for their lives.  This was a full day of Revival!  The people began to grieve their sinfulness and the fact they had not been obedient to God.

Nehemiah echoed the words of Ezra and the other religious leaders that the people should rejoice that they had heard God’s Word and not grieve.  Rather than grieving they should have a festival.  Listen to how he said it:

 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  

Now we know the context of the verse.  So what does it mean for us?  I believe it means this:  When we are convicted by the message of God’s Word, we are to rejoice because of God’s salvation and His guiding hand.  Out of that “joy” (to rejoice means to express joy) we will find the strength we need.

Do we sometimes feel weak as Christians?  Where is our rejoicing in the Word of God?  Without rejoicing, there is no joy of the Lord.  Without the joy of the Lord, there is no strength.

In 2008 at Second Baptist, we hope to have four Sundays set aside as “Festival of Joy” days where we are called apart to hear God’s Word and have Revival.  We will talk more about this in Sunday’s sermon.