The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

By John Hendrix

Then he 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 8:10)

After many years of exile, many faithful Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, the old heart of the Israelite nation. Ezra and Nehemiah encouraged the people in returning to their spiritual roots as well. Nehemiah asked Ezra to read the Law and everyone stood up.

So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. (v 8)

They understood.

They understood that God had chosen them as His special people. They understood that He gave them a law for their own good. They understood the sins and failings that led to their long exile.

So they wept. Sorrow about not pleasing God is good and right (1 Corinthians 7:10). Yet the time comes to put the sorrow away:

This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. (1 Corinthians 2:6-7)

Sorrow has its necessary place in repentance, but the joy of the LORD is our strength. The great and glorious works of God-many, the result of our sins-should be joyously celebrated as well as soberly contemplated.

How awful it is that God had to sacrifice His Son to pay for our sins!

How marvelous and wonderful that God sacrificed His Son for our sins!

Joy and sorrow and coexist, and in the cross of Jesus the two come together in a point sharp enough to pierce any heart.

Christian joy should give us wings to soar above all of the sorrows and hardships of the world. Many hardships and sorrows become trivial while contemplating the ecstatic vision of heaven God has given us. Even the sorrows that are by no means small fade in comparison to eternal union with our God and our Savior:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

Do not let sorrow rule, for endless joy is within our grasp through Jesus Christ.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (1 John 3:1)

We should let this joy show through in our lives. Take time to thank God, smile, and be a blessing to others.

The writer of Hebrews urged us to look to each other to encourage love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). Do not forsake the assemblies and miss the opportunities to edify and be edified.

Our assemblies should be marked by the joy of the LORD. Now, our assemblies are not about our own entertainment, and nothing should be considered edifying unless it first pleases God. Then pleasing God should please us.

There should be joy in reading God's word, public readings and private. I know of a man who concludes every public reading with, "Bless the reading of God's word." Amen! And let that exclamation point show through while you read.

I know that doing anything publicly is difficult and, to some, nearly terrifying. Yet let us all strive to have and to express the great joy that having and reading God's word should bring. Practice so that you do not sound like you are reciting a first grade reader. As a public leader in the assembly, you are responsible for injecting into the congregation all of the joy and energy that God's word deserves.

Let the song leader consider carefully! Are our assemblies the time for dragging out dispirited songs? Do we sing about heaven as though the thought of it puts us to sleep or fills us with an inexpressible happiness?

Those who lead prayer should take note! What an awesome thing it is to speak to the God of all creation! Is there anything more wonderful than the knowledge that God Almighty hears when we pray to Him? Let this wonder show through.

Preachers and teachers, I am talking to you! Prepare your exhortations carefully. In a special way, you "adorn" the word of God. The speaker must accept the greater responsibility for the attention of the audience. He must spend himself-speaking earnestly and enthusiastically-if he is to edify the listeners.

Members all, you all have your part! Forget the minor pains, look past the distractions. Sing aloud to God for the wonderful blessings He has showered down upon us! Sing aloud to each other to encourage a faithful life to God! Give the speaker the attention he needs to makes his points of edification.

There is no praise without joy. Without joy, all praise is a dull recitation of facts that even the demons know and have confessed. Praise is perfected in the expression of joy. The joy of the LORD should fill our hearts to the bursting! It should lift our heads and lighten our steps! Let joy heal the sorrows of life. Let joy follow repentance in returning us to fruitful service to God.

Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:12-13, NASB)

The joy of the Lord can get us through temptations and earthly sorrows. It can strengthen us all through this earthly journey until we come face to face with the One who made us, bought us, and sustains us.