“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. 10 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.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” 12 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 8:9-12 NIV
Lord of all Joy,
After a day of standing and listening and understanding Your Word. Nehemiah and Ezra are in agreement. It is not just a good day, it is a Holy and joyful day. So everyone should go and celebrate together and break their fast. They had not eaten since before daybreak if at all!
The joy of the Lord, is a well known and often quoted little verse. And it has just struck me that if joy from You gives us strength then You must have joy, be joyful? I somehow never consider You as being joyful and I am not sure why. Holy can be joyful! Looking to scripture in Luke chapter 15, Jesus tells us about the joy in heaven when one lost sinner repents. And a little later on that there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents. So it must be You God that has the joy in the angels presence. A joyful God. Rejoicing. The angels carried that joy and passed it to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born.
Help me to remember You are a Holy God, worthy of worship. The Law giver. But You also rejoice over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17) and that joy strengths us. You joy in us, amazing.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 12th October 2025 Simple but it actually made me smile and then laugh. See it to the end. Worship doesn’t have to be serious does it?
