Nehemiah 8:9-10 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said to all the people… THE JOY OF THE LORD IS THAT SENSATION OF GLADNESS AND HAPPINESS WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVEYS TO THE SOUL, AND MAINTAINS IN THE SOUL, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN HIS TRUE CHARACTER TOWARDS US. 1. It has nothing to do with worldly joy. It is substantial, eternal, shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day of its consummation in the saints around God's heavenly throne (Galatians 3:22; Romans 14:17). 2. It belongs to the people of God to rejoice in a sense of their reconciliation; to know their salvation is sure through Christ's life; to rejoice in the glorious Creator Himself (Romans 5:11). II. MANY A TIME HAVE THESE SHORT WORDS DELIGHTED THE BELIEVER'S EAR, AND CHEERED HIS HEART. 1. Mark their excellency. Sound like a sentence uttered in the full knowledge of the gospel rather than under the law. Weak and helpless in yourselves, the Spirit can strengthen you, and supply you with new motives and ability to please the Lord. God has given His only Son to be our joy and our strength. We have a strong city (Isaiah 26:1; Hebrews 6:18; Ephesians 6:10). 2. But how does joy act in rendering us strong — strong to deny ourselves, to suffer, to labour in the cause of Christ? We know our privileges in Christ. This makes us joyful and happy. 3. The Christian rejoices in the past work of Christ, who died; in the present work, intercession; in the future work, returning again in majesty, to endow His servants with eternal bliss (Romans 8:82). 4. Again, joy in the Lord will enable the Christian to accomplish works for the glory of God and the good of others. We know that "heart" or "spirit" will enable the competitor for a prize to go through extraordinary exertion. It is the same with the soldier, the labourer, all who have to exert themselves with their bodies or minds. So with the Christian. (F. Trench.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. |
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