Where do we find strength? Some people find it in routines, exercising, or self-help books. But is that a strength which helps us in difficult spiritual days? One day our routine will be disrupted. Exercise will fail us through health or age. And self-help books will not have answers to problems that come from outside us. Instead, we must find true joy and strength elsewhere.
For the believer, our joy and strength is found in the Lord. God’s unchanging goodness and mercy to us, expressed through his Word, demonstrated in Christ’s life and sacrifice, and applied to us by the Holy Spirit, are the true source of our strength. Finding joy in the ups and downs of life, and the strength to endure, comes not from ourselves but from knowing God in Christ.
For six hours, Ezra had read from the Law to God’s People who had gathered as a special assembly to hear him speak. Nehemiah’s grand vision, to bring reformation and revival to God’s People, was taking shape.
The response to Ezra’s reading was not rejection or indifference. It was weeping over sin. “All the people wept as they heard the words of the Law” (v.9). As the Law was proclaimed, they were confronted with their sin. They discovered the various ways that they had not kept the standard which God required. They discovered that their hearts were devoted to selfishness instead of God. They were convicted of their sorry state.
That conviction brought with it the fear of God’s judgement. It caused them to weep tears of repentance. Their spiritual reality had awoken within them as a community, rather than just as individuals. As an historic event, this is not the norm. God certainly works this way in individuals’ lives, but not always in an entire community’s life. When it does then a true revival comes.
But living in weeping was not where God’s People were to stay. They were not without hope. Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites told the Jews “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep” (v.9). It was the first day of the seventh month, and so it was a special feast day set aside for God’s People to show their devotion to God.
Instead of weeping, they were told to “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” (v.10).
That feast day was the feast of Tabernacles, which celebrated God providing for their ancestors in the Wilderness after saving them from Egypt. They would live in tents (aka booths or tabernacles) and would feast. It was a time of celebration and gladness, because it was a festival where God’s goodness and mercy were remembered.
Since it was a festival for all to enjoy, Nehemiah encouraged the congregation to share with one another so that everyone was able to join in. Where their sorrow would drain them of energy, the celebration would fill them with strength. Through rejoicing in God’s past goodness to their ancestors, and believing by faith in God’s unchanging goodness towards them as the ones who had inherited the same covenant promises, they would find strength.
Nehemiah’s encouragement had an effect on the Jews gathered there. “The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” And 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” (vv.11-12).
God’s People, convicted of their sins, were also encouraged to rejoice in the goodness of God. They could rely upon God and his heart towards them, and know God’s love and forgiveness was greater than their fear of punishment for unbelief. This message sank in and they went away to celebrate and rejoice, finding joy and strength in God.
There is a lesson for us in the response. We rightly feel pain and sadness when we acknowledge or are confronted with our sins. This is good and right! We have pained God by our rebellion. But we must not remain bathing in sadness. We must turn to Christ and find joy and strength in knowing God has forgiven us in Jesus.
For us a practical example is the Lord’s Supper. As we commune with Christ in the bread and wine, we often contemplate our sinfulness that such a sacrifice is needed, which can lead us to sorrow. But we should also rejoice that God provided that sacrifice, and that he delights to forgive us. Communion is also a celebration
Embracing joy reminds us that we are beloved by God. It also reminds us that our relationship with Jesus is more important than the material things of this world. When we look to heaven, we trust God to keep his promises and find our joy and strength in Christ our great saviour.