The Joy of the Lord is my strength (2)

               Nehemiah 8: 9-12 NASV

⁹ Then 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 were weeping when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹² All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.

Have you ever stopped to consider that in that scripture which says “the joy of the Lord is our strength”, that it is His joy and not ours?

In this we participate in something that we do not own, but we are offered joy as a source of encouragement and fulfillment if we receive it.  Obviously we do not deserve it, it is a true gift from the Lord.  It is His way of putting a part of Himself into us as a deposit for what is to come.

We have a propensity to see the depravity of our condition and allow guilt to creep in.  Guilt causes us to weep and mourn because of how we have mistreated the Lord and each other, or how we have just ignored the Lord and His ways.  That is an example of our broken human nature being exposed. 

However, the ‘joy of the Lord’ comes without obligation and without pre-tense.  We can’t earn it, and we can’t ‘guilt it' into our lives.  There is no prerequisite for receiving the ‘joy of the Lord’ other than just receiving it.  It is a free gift.  

 In reading the verses above in Nehemiah 8, if I were to put this interaction into our present day verbiage style with the priests of that day, I think they might be telling the people something like this…

 

Why are you crying?

For you can’t live the life the Lord wants you to live, it’s impossible in your own strength!   

Only He can live that life through you—

 So change your attitude!   

Have a feast!  

Start giving with great generosity to others! 

Joy is something He will give you and you will gain strength from that Joy.   

For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

 

Psalms 8: 6-7 (NIRV)

 

⁶Give praise to the Lord.
    He has heard my cry for his favor.
⁷ The Lord gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe.
    My heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart jumps for joy.
    I will sing and give thanks to him.

Again I am struck with the amazing revelation that it is the work of the Lord through and through.  We bring nothing to the party but the vessel for Him to fill and to work His good pleasure in and through us. 

Psalm 16: 1-11 (NIRV)

¹ God, keep me safe.
    I go to you for safety.

² I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord.
    Without you, I don’t have anything that is good.”
³ God’s people who live in our land are glorious.
    I take great delight in them.
⁴ Those who run after other gods
    will have nothing but trouble.
I will not pour out offerings of blood to those gods.
    My lips will not speak their names.

⁵ Lord, everything you have given me is good.
    You have made my life secure.
⁶ I am very pleased with what you have given me.
    I am very happy with what I’ve received from you.

⁷ I will praise the Lord. He gives me good advice.
    Even at night my heart teaches me.
⁸ I know that the Lord is always with me.
    He is at my right hand.
    I will always be secure.

⁹ So my heart is glad. Joy is on my tongue.
    My body also will be secure.
¹⁰ You will not leave me in the grave.
    You will not let your faithful one rot away.
¹¹ You always show me the path that leads to life.
    You will fill me with joy when I am with you.
    You will give me endless pleasures at your right hand.

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Holy is the Lord

By:  Chris Tomlin , Louie Giglio

  

Verse

We stand and lift up our hands

for the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great, how awesome is He

Pre-Chorus

And together we sing

Everyone sing

Chorus 

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

the earth is filled with His glory

the earth is filled with His glory

Bridge

It is rising up all around

It’s the anthem of the Lord’s renown

(Repeat)

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