Nehemiah 8: The Joy of the Lord
As we continue with this 11th lesson on Nehemiah, we see the importance of joy in the life of the Christ follower, and its source.
Click here for the recording of this 3/1/26 Service, and you can fast-forward to 23:33 to get to the start of the sermon.
Our text is from Nehemiah 8. 9-12
9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “ This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the Law.
10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your refuge.”
11So the Levites silenced all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”
12 Then all the people went away to eat, drink, to send portions, and to celebrate a great feast, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.
Introduction
Real joy, rooted in a relationship with Jesus, is refreshing
It is different than happiness, which is circumstantial and temporary
My first exposure to v10 was a corny song we sang in youth group as a kid growing up in the church
The first person in my life who modeled real joy was my grandfather, EB Johnson- his poetry…
Your home of origin often sets a trajectory for joy, or lack thereof, in your life
Setting the stage
Ezra had just read from the law, no doubt from large scrolls, for about 6 hrs
The gravity of what it said had hit them, and began to sink in
Their captivity in Persia was a direct result of their sin, and they began to realize it
The Word of god, when read rightly, has a surgical effect on the reader…
Heb 4.12-13
12For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.
8.9
Both Nehemiah and Ezra were working together in this scene, along with the Levites, who taught the law along with Ezra- they said two things
Today is a sacred day before the Lord (How do you view Sunday?)
Do not weep or mourn (they were reacting to hearing the law read; the conviction of the HS)
8.10
Go enjoy the festival foods
Enjoy your sweet drinks
Give some to those who have nothing
Because today is a holy day
Do not be grieved or sad
The joy of the Lord is your strong place of safety or refuge- live in that space! (joy is not a feeling, but a decision to give Him lordship over your emotions)
8.11
The Levites quieted down the peoples’ mourning
Hush; it is a holy day
Do not be grieved or pained
8.12- the result
The people went away to eat
To drink
To send portions (to those who did not have any)
To celebrate a great feast
Why did this happen?
Because they understood (bin) the words (davar) that had been made known (yada) to them
The Word, rightly explained, and then rightly understood and obeyed, has a liberating impact on the hearer
Why this matters!
The gravity of the Word of God is at times negative- the scalpel
Obedience to the Word of God is positive- oil and wine
There is a time for the people of God to celebrate, with gusto- the reason I love ethnic celebrations
A right understanding of God’s word, and obeyed, brings a settled joy into one’s life that is priceless, and independent of circumstances
Watch the Ben Sasse interview on youtube.
