Nehemiah 8:9,10
‘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. Then he said to them, “Go, eat the festival foods, drink the sweet drinks, 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 refuge.”’
This is interesting advice. I would have thought that the people should have stayed with their feelings. They had a proper response to the Law. It may be the first time many had heard it.
At the same time I do understand not allowing them to stay in the sorrow. Excessive grief is not good. If the experience is too grievous, then they might not want to do the festival again.
As I did some reading and learned that this was the Festival of Booths. It’s when they would live in tents to remember when God delivered them from Egypt and they lived in tents for many years. The commentators seemed to thing that this hasn’t been celebrated since Joshua’s time.
It is a festival. It’s supposed to be a time of celebration. The children would love the camping out experience. This is a good charge to celebrate. The calendar tells them to do it. Their personal season of life may have been in the valley. We should engage in the celebration even though we don’t feel it. This is being disciplined. It’s when we do what we should, not what we feel.
The first time I heard this verse was on christian radio. They were introducing us to the concept of holiness. My religious upbringing gave a very austere definition to it. I thought holiness was devoid of joy. It made me think of disapproval and shame. This verse is quite different. It says, “This day is holy, do not mourn.” It further says, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your refuge.” I would never have put joy and holy together.
This is a wonderful shattering of misconceptions. God’s acceptance is like the warm sun on my back. That’s because of Jesus’ sacrifice. We are complete in Him. He is joyful about us.
Lord, help us to know your holiness, but in it’s full sense. Where we want to praise You, not to shrink back. Thank You, that our feelings can be wrong. Help us to align ourselves with Your Word. To praise You always. To know Your joy.