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Nehemiah 8:9-10, Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

What an amazing chapter!  Ezra the priest brings out the Book of the Law and begins to read it to all the people who could understand.  Verse 3 of this chapter states, He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.  I’ve been trying to visualize thousands of men, women, and children, listening to the reading of the law.  Most likely, it had been years since they had heard God’s Word read out loud.  Some may never have heard it.  Remember, they had been in exile and then they moved to a very disheveled and chaotic Jerusalem, where survival was precarious.  They had become disconnected from God’s Word for generations.

And they begin to weep.  They were both distraught and heartbroken at how far away from God’s Law they had moved.   But Nehemiah gets up and tells the people not to weep.  Rather, this was a holy day of celebration.  They don’t need to grieve because God is joyful at their newfound obedience.  They need to rest in that and allow God’s joy to be their strength.

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, Help us stay grounded in your Word.  Help us never be disconnected from who and whose we are.  Help us grow, Lord.  In Your Name, Amen.