Nehemiah Chapter 8
Let The Joy Of The Lord Be Our Strength.
I find it interesting that the people of Israel gathered before the priests asking them to read the Word of God. And Ezra the priest read from morning till midday from the word and taught them.
The people had so much respect for God’s word that they stood when he opened the Bible. They praised God. And some fell with their faces to the ground as they worshiped. Many people were weeping and the priests said let this be a day of celebration and not weeping. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength. So for 7 days they had a celebration before the Lord and read from God’s word. They were filled with joy which captivated their hearts in such a way that they wanted to hear God’s word and wanted to fellowship before the Lord.
Perhaps some of our churches need to have the joy of the Lord as their strength so that we also have excitement and respect for the reading and teaching of God’s word. Might we have a joy that gets us excited about going to church versus going and wondering when it’s going to end.
Lord give me a renewed and refreshed joy for you, your Word, your church, and for lost souls. May people see my joy and excitement for you in such a way that they want what I have.
