Readings for today: Nehemiah 8-10
One of my real weaknesses is how rarely I stop to smell the roses. To celebrate what God has done. I move on far too quickly to the next thing. The next mountaintop. The next challenge. The next milestone on the road I happen to find myself on. I’ve had to discipline myself over the years to slow down. Savor the moment. Rejoice over what has been accomplished.
The wall is finished. The people of Israel are settled in their cities. The exile is essentially over. So Nehemiah gathers them together to hear the Word of God. In one of the earliest examples of preaching in the Bible, Ezra stands on a platform before the gathered assembly. The Levites are with him to both amplify and explain what they hear. They teach them God’s law and a holy hush falls on the people. They are convicted of their sin and they begin to weep. But Nehemiah quickly redirects them. He calls for a celebration. Eating and drinking and generous giving. He knows they still have a long way to go. He knows they have much to learn. But this is a moment to rejoice. This is a moment to thank God. He has once again made His city secure. The place where He placed His name and sent His glory to fill His temple is safe once again. “Nehemiah said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NET)
Holiness and joy. These are not concepts we naturally associate with one another. Holiness is serious. Austere. It requires rigorous self-discipline or so we think. Joy, on the other hand, is playful. Indulgent. Fun. That’s why we tend to think of these terms - holiness and joy - as opposites. Antonyms. Pulling us in two very different directions but Nehemiah knows better. He knows holiness and joy both exist as part of God’s eternal nature. He also knows these are attributes God loves to share with His people. They are the fruit of the Spirit’s work in a person’s heart and life. It’s why when the people of God work so hard to achieve so much in the building of Jerusalem’s wall, Nehemiah calls for an extravagant party. When was the last time you threw a party over what God has done in and through your life? When was the last time you experienced joy in God’s presence? When was the last time you knew God was smiling down on you? The reality is God is not only “holy, holy, holy” but “joyful, joyful, joyful.” He is simultaneously the most holy Being in the universe and the most joyful. And because we are made in His image, our lives should reflect both of these realities as well.
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays