By Ife J. Ibitayo
For Part 1 on “A Foundation of Rejoicing and Regret”, click here. For Part 2 on “Expecting Much but Finding Little”, click here.
With Thanksgiving coming in a couple weeks, many positive scriptures are rightly on people’s minds. Verses like “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b) pop up in our “Verse of the Day” apps. And we find ourselves repeating these words without grasping the original context in which they were spoken.
Background
The LORD had restored the exiles to their homeland of Jerusalem. They had just finished reconstructing their city’s protective wall. But the returnees were few in number and homeless (Nehemiah 7:4). It was the beginning of the Israelites’ holiday season, the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. But here they were living in ruin, far from their friends and families still in exile.
New Year
The first day of the seventh month is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. As the Jews stepped into a new year, they sought the LORD’s will. “[A]ll the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel… 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” (Nehemiah 8:1,3 NIV).
As we step into a new year, a new presidency, and a new phase of this pandemic, we need God’s word more than ever before. The book of Psalms says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT). As we venture into new territory, it’d be wise to not journey in the dark.
Fresh Tears
The book of Nehemiah goes on to say, “All the people wept as they heard the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:9b ESV). Simply hearing the word of God is not enough. The hearts of the Israelites were clearly moved by the message Ezra read to them. When was the last time you wept while reading the Bible? When was the last time the living Word challenged you to change the way you live your life? When was the last time Holy Scripture pierced you to your very core?
Conclusion
As the Israelites wept, Nehemiah encouraged them with the words, “‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’…So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them’” (Nehemiah 8:10,12 NLT).
As we prepare to fill our bellies with delicious grub, we must approach the dinner table aright. Let’s weep over the ashes of our nation decimated by disease. Let’s acknowledge how far we’ve fallen short of God’s holy standard. But let’s also find joy in the strength of our LORD and rejoice mightily before Him.
“Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.”
(Psalm 3:2-3 NKJV)