

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 - And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ... And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ... They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And 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 wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "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."
I'm not surprised the people were weeping. How terrible it must have been, to hear the Word of God, maybe for the first time in your life ... and to realize just how badly you'd messed up, badly enough for the whole nation to earn 70 years in exile!
And so they wept. But the leaders said to them, "Don't cry. Celebrate. Because this is a holy day, and the joy of the Lord is your strength."
What does that mean, "the joy of the Lord"? I suppose it could mean "the joy you have in the Lord." Certainly we have that joy, even though we have sinned—because the Lord our God has come down from heaven to be our Savior, Jesus. He loves us that much, that He came to be one of us—and to suffer, die, and rise again, to take away all our sins. We don't have to cry anymore, no matter what we've done, because Jesus has taken care of it. And so He Himself is our joy forever.
But we could take those words another way, too. They might mean "the joy that the Lord takes in you." And that's fair, too—because through Jesus' work, we are not exiles anymore—we are children of God Himself, beloved and welcome forever in our Father's house. When He looks at us, He is not angry. He calls us precious in His eyes, beloved, and honored (see Isaiah 43:4). Either way, we have reason to celebrate!
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, You are my joy. Make me Yours. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Who is someone you rejoice in? Why?
2. When God forgives you, how do you feel? Why?
3. How do you express your joy in the Lord in actions?
Today's Bible Readings: Job 32-33 Matthew 14:1-21
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