The joy of the Lord is my strength. It is taken from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. The people of Israel had been taken captive, their city burned to the ground, their temple dismantled, and destroyed.
Soon after rising to power, King Cyrus calls for the elders of Israel. He tells them to gather a remanent to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple. Nehemiah was a scribe and a prophet. He, along with Ezra the priest and a band of Levites are charged with returning to Judah to rebuild the beloved city and restore worship to the Hebrew God.
In this verse of scripture, the small group has gathered at one of the city gates on the first day of the seventh month. They are sad at seeing the total destruction of their homeland. The people ask to hear the word of the Lord—the Torah—the five sacred books of Israel. Ezra stands on a make-shift pulpit, opens the first scroll, and begins to read. He reads from morning until midday. The hearts of the listeners began to grieve at the hearing of the text—they knew that as a nation, they had abandoned them. Now standing in the aftermath of the consequences of their actions, their hearts were overwhelmed with sadness and sorrow.
As Nehemiah records the account, Ezra, feeling the heaviness of the people, pauses from reading, and admonishes them. He tells them to eat, drink, share, and rejoice in this day because it is the Lord’s Day. He concludes the admonition by saying the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Consider how powerful this story is.
A hopeless people are given hope. They are told that joy—the Lord’s joy—will give them strength—to face the challenges ahead. Even more important is what is implied. Do not let your eyes, ears, or emotions, or surroundings, dictate to you what is ahead. Instead, let the word of God, and happiness, and hope that comes only from God, guide you as it strengthens you for the certain challenges you will face.
In the times the earth has entered into, a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, maybe the only thing that will get you to the other side. The joy that Ezra the priest speaks of, comes only from “knowing” the Lord, not hearing about him, are knowing someone who knows him. It is up-close and personal, and can only be found in a close personal relationship.
This is why this blog is posted week after week. This is why is web-page exists. It is not about “doing,” but “being,” that brings you into his presence. It isn’t about checking off the “religious to-do” list, it is about opening your heart, allowing yourself to be vulnerable to an unseen force—who happens to be your creator. There are unseen forces that are out to destroy you, and I am certainly not talking about them.
We have a silly exercise at our house to remind us that His joy is what enables us to get through. It is usually illustrated by the one NOT going through the challenge—which, according to the senses, is pure foolishness—and it goes like this. Looking them in the eye, you say out loud, now say, He-he, ho-ho, ha-ha.” Then repeat.
The purpose of the exercise is a simple reminder during the heat of battle that the Lord will get you through this if you trust him. So, he-he, ho-ho, ha-ha.
Enjoy your week, and be happy.