Neh 8:10 | KingComments | STEP | Wherever the LORD becomes the center of the people, He lets the people share in His joy. Nehemiah knows his God. He knows the joy of God is to see that His people are happy and that they enjoy the good gifts He gives them. They may eat delicacies, of the best in the land, and drink of the sweet. If they so enjoy God’s good gifts, they will not forget those who have nothing. They will let the poor share in the joy by sending them a portion of their gifts. In doing so they will be imitators of God, Who has acted in goodness with the people in this way. If the Word has discovered our failure and we repent, we will once again consecrate ourselves to the Lord. A first result of dedication is that we will enjoy the Word as a source of refreshment and strength. As a result, we will become a channel of blessing for others. When our own failure has become clear to us, we can then be reminded of the power that preserves us from further failure. After the sadness, joy can come again. After failure, service for the Lord comes again. For this service, strength is needed. That strength lies in the joy in the Lord. If we are put on a dead end in our service, or if we do not receive thanks or recognition, it is difficult to hold on to this joy. But why should things be any different for us than for the Lord Jesus? He does not reap any thanks or recognition either. Yet He rejoices “in the Holy Spirit” ( ). And when Paul is imprisoned, really on a dead end, he does not sit there sulking and being pathetic, but speaks abundantly of joy, as is evident from his letter to the Philippians which he writes during his imprisonment ( ).

‏ Nehemiah 8:10

The Joy of the LORD Is Strength

Wherever the LORD becomes the center of the people, He lets the people share in His joy. Nehemiah knows his God. He knows the joy of God is to see that His people are happy and that they enjoy the good gifts He gives them. They may eat delicacies, of the best in the land, and drink of the sweet. If they so enjoy God’s good gifts, they will not forget those who have nothing. They will let the poor share in the joy by sending them a portion of their gifts. In doing so they will be imitators of God, Who has acted in goodness with the people in this way.

If the Word has discovered our failure and we repent, we will once again consecrate ourselves to the Lord. A first result of dedication is that we will enjoy the Word as a source of refreshment and strength. As a result, we will become a channel of blessing for others.

When our own failure has become clear to us, we can then be reminded of the power that preserves us from further failure. After the sadness, joy can come again. After failure, service for the Lord comes again. For this service, strength is needed. That strength lies in the joy in the Lord.

If we are put on a dead end in our service, or if we do not receive thanks or recognition, it is difficult to hold on to this joy. But why should things be any different for us than for the Lord Jesus? He does not reap any thanks or recognition either. Yet He rejoices “in the Holy Spirit” (Lk 10:21). And when Paul is imprisoned, really on a dead end, he does not sit there sulking and being pathetic, but speaks abundantly of joy, as is evident from his letter to the Philippians which he writes during his imprisonment (Phil 1:4 ; 18 ; Phil 2:2 ; 17-18 ; Phil 3:1 ; Phil 4:1 ; 4 ; 10).