First Response

“Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

What do you do with what you’ve heard?  When, by sight or sound, God’s Word comes your way, what do you with it?  What is your response to His revelation?

When the Jews around Jerusalem heard God’s Word, the first thing they did was start crying.  “Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law”(Neh 8:9).  Their grief was great because they realized God’s holiness and their own helplessness.  This attitude of humility and brokenness was beautiful, and their repentant hearts led Nehemiah to offer calm and comfort.  “Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength”(Neh 8:10). 

But God’s people didn’t stop at simply acknowledging their failures and enjoying God’s forgiveness, they took the next step and complied with God’s commands.  When the leaders gathered the next day “to give attention to the words of the Law”(vs 13), they discovered that God had established a week-long campout to commemorate His faithfulness during their ancestors’ exodus from Egypt and journey to the Promised Land.  So Nehemiah and company spread the word, and everyone gathered branches and built huts to stay in for the seven days.  All around town, on roofs, in courtyards, by the temple, and in the city’s squares, “the whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them”(Neh 8:17).

As crazy as it sounds, instead of causing them frustration or irritation, this obedience to God’s Word triggered great celebration.  “From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this.  And their joy was very great”(Neh 8:17).  Even when we don’t fully understand the why’s of God’s commands, obedience to His Word will bring blessing—the blessing of joy, the blessing of peace, and the blessing of celebration.

God does not speak to hear His own voice.  He speaks so that we will listen to His Word and then live it out.  Don’t ignore the conversation.  With a humble heart, let His Word bring you to tears, calm your fears, call you to obey, and cause you to celebrate.   

Listen to God’s Word, and let it break you.

Obey God’s Word, and let Him bless you.

And celebrate with great joy.