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… I. THE NATURE OF A TRUE BELIEVER'S JOY. It is "the joy of the Lord." Why? 1. Because God is its author. This joy is no mere animal sensation. It is not the same thing as what we call "good spirits." It is not that flow of lively feelings and sensations which spring up themselves in a man's heart when things are grateful and agreeable. Such feelings are of nature only, and never hold. Religion has no root in them (Matthew 13:20, 21). The joy of true believers is a spiritual gift (Galatians 5:22). 2. Because God is its subject. True believers "joy in the God of their salvation." (1) They joy in the freeness of His great salvation. (2) They joy in the imputation of His justifying righteousness. 3. They joy in God as the Giver of their present privileges and the Preparer of their future glories (2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10; Isaiah 61:10; Romans 5:5; Philippians 4:7; Proverbs 3:17; James 1:2.) II. THE EFFECT OF THIS JOY UPON THE BELIEVER'S HEART AND LIFE. 1. It strengthens him for duty. How beautifully is this exemplified in the case of the Churches of Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:2-5). What made them so warm, so zealous in their duties? "The abundance of their joy." The joy of the Lord was their strength. 2. It strengthens him for suffering. See this exemplified: David (1 Samuel 30:6); the apostles when they were beaten before the Jewish council (Acts 5:41); Paul when he calls his heavy trials "light afflictions" (2 Corinthians 4:17); Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi (Acts 16:25); the victories in the dying hours of true believers (Psalm 149:5, 6; 2 Corinthians 4:16). (A. Roberts, M. A.) 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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