Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): 10 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.”

The narrative of Ezra and Nehemiah are closely associated and overlapping.  In fact, they were once considered the same book.

They chronicle the return of God’s people to Jerusalem after 70 years in exile and captivity.  Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar ransacked and destroyed the city.  Jeremiah’s narrative and lament (Lamentations) detail the horror of this moment. 

Jeremiah also noted that this exile was the direct result of the people’s rebellion and sin.

However, Jeremiah also prophesied that it would come to an end and God would restore his people. (Jeremiah 25:11)

Nehemiah chapter 8 is set after a time when the temple has been rebuilt.  The center of worship has been restored.  The people are returning to their God.

The wall has now been complete, despite constant opposition and challenges. 

God is fulfilling his promise to restore his people.

At the completion of the wall, the people gather to read from the law, to worship, to celebrate.

Instead what happens is that the reading of the law fills them with grief.  They are reminded why they were in exile in the first place.  They are reminded why their city was destroyed in the first place.  And they realize that though God has begun to restore them, they are far from restored AND they are but an act of faithlessness and rebellion away from the cycle being repeated.  They are grieved because of their sin that caused this in the first place and likely they are fearful of a repeat.  What was supposed to be a celebration of God’s faithfulness to them has turned into a grievous lament.

Enter Nehemiah 8:10…

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): 10 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.”

The Joy of the Lord is your strength.

The Joy of the Lord that delights in forgiving, reconciliation, and restoring. 

Yes, they ought to be grieved over their sin and rebellion. 

BUT in this moment, the joy of God’s delight to forgive and restore is their strength.  It is their hope.  It is their delight.

They can rejoice and celebrate because the Lord is taking great joy in the restoration of his people to Himself. 

This is simply incredible! 

Hebrews 12:2 bears entrance here…

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV): 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God

For the JOY set before him…

What joy?

The joy of extending forgiveness and reconciliation this his own sacrificial death.  The joy of restoring and reconciling his own to Himself.  The joy of drawing near what once had been in exile, alienated from him.

WHAT!?

The joy of the Lord is seen in extending forgiveness, offering reconciliation, and restoring what once was broken due to rebellion and sin.

The joy of the Lord is seen in HIS INITIATION of restoring what WE broke.

The joy of the Lord delights in forgiveness.

For forgiveness restores the intimacy with Him that he created us for; that he longs for; that he passionately pursues with us.

It is as wrong to mourn when God has forgiven us as it is to rejoice when sin has conquered us. The sinner has no reason for rejoicing and the forgiven child of God has no reason for mourning (Matt. 9:9–17). Warren Wiersbe

Abba, what an incredible truth.  We can rest in forgiveness, not because we have deserved it or earned it, but because you promise it and you take great joy in it.  Our strength is not in forgiving ourselves, for no such commandment or truth exists in your holy word.  Our strength is resting in the joy you take in forgiving a broken and contrite heart that repents from the sin that separates us from you. 

Our strength is found in your JOY and DELIGHT in washing and cleansing our sin away through the precious blood of Jesus. (1 John 1:9)

The secret of Christian joy is to believe what God says in His Word and act upon it. Faith that isn’t based on the Word is not faith at all; it is presumption or superstition. Joy that isn’t the result of faith is not joy at all; it is only a “good feeling” that will soon disappear. Faith based on the Word will produce joy that will weather the storms of life. Warren Wiersbe

That alone is worthy of the sacred and special declaration of AWESOME!

Psalm 51:17 (ESV): 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.