(REFLECTIONS ON Nehemiah 8:1-18 )

When the word of God was read and explained so that all who could hear would understand, it brought about great emotion amongst the crowd. That there was mourning and weeping means that the word of God had not only been heard by the ear, but that it had touched the heart.

As it is written in Hebrews 4:12,

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

However, Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites did not want the people to remain in a state of mourning or weeping. That is because the word of God is to change our hearts, not just to convict us, but to move us to repentance, which means to turn back to the Lord.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Israel then turned their mourning and weeping into joy, that is the joy of the Lord, and that was their strength. They turned back to the Lord and observed the Feast of the Tabernacles, which was a reminder of God’s provision for Israel when they were in the wilderness living in temporary shelters.

May the word of God also be alive and active in our lives today. May it penetrate into our heart and lead us through the process of mourning and weeping, repentance, and finally the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength because His word is working in us.

The word of God can lift us up from the ashes, turn our mourning into dancing, and make our paths straight once again. The joy of the Lord is our strength because it is life changing and is our comfort and peace despite the storms in our life.

This is why it is imperative that His word is in us, and we are in His word each day. This is the key of having the joy of the Lord, and that is our strength in this life.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Nehemiah 8