The Joy of the Lord is our Strength

This famous quote is from Nehemiah 8:10, found in today's scripture reading (Nehemiah 7-9 and Acts 3). The context is that God's people, who was released from captivity in Babylon, had finally finished rebuilding the walls surrounding Jerusalem. Ezra had earlier rebuilt the Temple (known as the Second Temple) in Jerusalem. Both of these mammoth projects were done under extreme hardship and danger (I had previously written a reflection on the books of Ezra and Nehemiah). So it called for a big memorial event, where all the returned exiles gathered together at the Water Gate (some 50,000 people, a remnant compared to the peak population during King David's time) and Ezra the teacher of the law was asked to read from the Book of the Law of Moses. When the people heard God's Word afresh, they recognized how their disobedience to the Lord had led to the demise of their great kingdom. They couldn't help but wept. So Ezra and Nehemiah admonished them:
“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.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

The reason for their joy? "Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." (Nehemiah 8:12)
It is worth noting that "From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great." (Nehemiah 8:17) - this is in reference to the time when Joshua took Israel into the promised land (after wandering in the desert for 40 years!). They conquered their enemies and took possession of a land flowing with milk and honey. Yet even their joy could not be compared with the joy of this remnant who had now once again heard God's Word and understood it!

Following such a joyful celebration they gathered together again to remind themselves the story of God's great redemption and their rebellion (Nehemiah 9) and concluded: "But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress." (Nehemiah 9:36-37)

Likewise, St Paul also reminded us from Israel's history (1 Corinthians 10): "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come." (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Now moving on to Acts 3. St Peter met a lame beggar at the temple gate called Beautiful (this is still the Second Temple which Ezra rebuilt and King Herod the Great greatly enlarged some 400 years later). When the beggar asked Peter for money he said these famous words: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6) and he instantly healed the man who had been lame for likely a long time (the bible did not say how long except that he was over 40 years old and had been known to a lot of people who saw him begging at that temple gate). What was shocking was the way Peter spoke up for Jesus so courageously when he had to explain to the astonished spectators (at the Solomon's Porch) what had just happened. Wasn't this the same Peter who denied Jesus 3 times? Once again St Peter reminded the people the great redemptive story of the same God, who delivered them from slavery in Egypt and gave them the Promised Land, had given them His own Son Jesus, whom they rejected and killed:
"The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see." (Acts 3:13-16)
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. " (Acts 3:19-20)

And this is the link between the Old and New testament passages read today, and the lesson learned:
The Joy of the Lord is our Strength - comes through (1) accepting the salvation from God through His Son Jesus; (2) repenting of my sin - sin of rejecting Him and deliberate rebellion to follow after idols (the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - 1 John 2:16). The joy and refreshing comes from Jesus, knowing Him and His love for me. And the strength will make a lame man walk and a blind man see. Praise the Lord! Amen! Amen! (Nehemiah 8:5)