That Your Joy May be Full!

 “For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he [Nehemiah or Ezra] said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” ~ Nehemiah 8:9-10

 Written by my daughter, Rebecca...

The Law had been read aloud to the people on the first day of the seventh month, just as prescribed in Deuteronomy 31, and those who heard it were overcome with grief. The inevitable result of understanding the Law of God is to understand ...how far you fall short of it. The children of the captivity were realizing, for perhaps the first time, how devastatingly great a gap their sin created between themselves and the Lord. They were realizing how abominable was their rebellion and the rebellion of their fathers. It was indeed worthy of many, many tears.

But that day was a holy day, a day of Sabbath-rest and worship. Mourning was not appropriate; in fact, to persist in formal grief, when the Lord had instituted celebration, would directly contradict the reason they were supposedly weeping. You say you are sorry for your sin; WHY ARE YOU STILL SINNING? No amount of tears and sackcloth, or sacrifices and offerings, can ever remove the stain of evil. It’s there. You’re guilty. There’s nothing you can do about it. Your only chance is to throw yourself at the mercy of the Lord God.

And that’s where the joy of the Lord comes in!

Israel was guilty, and they knew it. We are guilty. Yet we can go, eat the fat, drink the sweet, share our abundance, and celebrate? How is that possible?

Jesus is why that is possible! Jesus Messiah, the fulfillment of the Law, is the reason we have the Lord’s joy fulfilled in ourselves. He paid our debt, cleansed us from our sin, and presents us to God the Father as new creations. 1 John 1:1-4, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

The joy of the Lord is all that we have in Him. It’s His mercy, His love, His grace, His presence, His blessings, His hand, His guidance, His wisdom, His peace, His sovereignty, His care, His forgiveness – the list could go on and on! The joy of the Lord, the joy of the relationship we have with Him and all that He has given us, is our strength. It’s how we face each day. It’s how we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It’s how we have hope in the midst of darkness. The joy of the Lord is, literally, the LORD HIMSELF! Genesis 15:1, “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’”

The omnipotent Creator God is with me, loving me, supporting me, refining me, forgiving me, and working all things together for good in my life. I know He’s there for me, always. I know I dwell between His shoulders, at His mercy seat, sheltered beneath His wings. I know He’s redeemed me and made me His beloved daughter. I know He’s preparing a place for me in His kingdom. I know I can boldly come before His throne of grace. I know He never changes. I DON’T know the limit of His grace. Tell me, if I have HIM…is there anything greater or more glorious? Is there anything that compares to Him? Is there any good thing that I lack? No! Not ever!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,



And He adds no sorrow with it.”