Monday, June 18, 2012

musings on joy and strength

I've been reading Nehemiah these last few days. This morning I was reading in chapter 8. In chapters 6 and 7, the wall was finished, the list of the returned exiles was made, and the totals of the people and gifts were counted. As chapter 8 begins, the people are gathered, and the Law of Moses is read to the assembly. Picking up in chapter 8 verse 9, it says,
"And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to 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." So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them." 
Obviously there is a LOT here to look at, but the part that really jumped out at me was the latter part of verse 10: "And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 

These people realized the gravity of the law, and what was required of them, and wept. But they were instructed to not be grieved. To not weep. For in the joy of the Lord was their strength.

I never really thought about joy being strength. Although I knew there was a difference, subconsciously I equated joy with happiness.  Something that passes with change, something without power. But in this true joy is strength. 

John Wesley in his Explanatory Notes expounds on this joy: 
 "Rejoicing in God in serving him with cheerfulness, and thankfulness, which is your duty always. But now especially, [he] will give you that strength both of mind and body which you greatly need, both to perform all the duties required of you, and to oppose all the designs of your enemies."

We have things required of us. There are commands for us to follow, commands that in ourselves we are incapable of following. But our strength consists in joy in the Lord. The better we understand God's word, the more we know Him, the more we find comfort...and strength. 

 So my focus today, and every day should be not on requirements, on lists; not on trying in my own strength. My focus should be on a relationship with Christ, and His word, for in that will I find the joy and strength to obey. 

0 comments:

musings on joy and strength

I've been reading Nehemiah these last few days. This morning I was reading in chapter 8. In chapters 6 and 7, the wall was finished, the list of the returned exiles was made, and the totals of the people and gifts were counted. As chapter 8 begins, the people are gathered, and the Law of Moses is read to the assembly. Picking up in chapter 8 verse 9, it says,
"And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to 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." So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them." 
Obviously there is a LOT here to look at, but the part that really jumped out at me was the latter part of verse 10: "And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 

These people realized the gravity of the law, and what was required of them, and wept. But they were instructed to not be grieved. To not weep. For in the joy of the Lord was their strength.

I never really thought about joy being strength. Although I knew there was a difference, subconsciously I equated joy with happiness.  Something that passes with change, something without power. But in this true joy is strength. 

John Wesley in his Explanatory Notes expounds on this joy: 
 "Rejoicing in God in serving him with cheerfulness, and thankfulness, which is your duty always. But now especially, [he] will give you that strength both of mind and body which you greatly need, both to perform all the duties required of you, and to oppose all the designs of your enemies."

We have things required of us. There are commands for us to follow, commands that in ourselves we are incapable of following. But our strength consists in joy in the Lord. The better we understand God's word, the more we know Him, the more we find comfort...and strength. 

 So my focus today, and every day should be not on requirements, on lists; not on trying in my own strength. My focus should be on a relationship with Christ, and His word, for in that will I find the joy and strength to obey. 

0 comments:

 

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