Nehemiah 8:10b - The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b; The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength.

Neh 8:10b (NIV)  Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your 
strength." 

CONTEXT

Ezra reads the law  (8:1-18)

CROSS REFERENCES

Psalm 28:7 (KJV)  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my 
heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly 
rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  

Isaiah 12:2, 3 (KJV)  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, 
and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; 
he also is become my salvation. [3] Therefore with joy shall ye 
draw water out of the wells of salvation.  

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul 
shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of 
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a 
bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself 
with her jewels.  

Isaiah 35:4 (KJV)  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be 
strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God 
with a recompence; he will come and save you.  

2 Cor. 12:9 (KJV)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient 
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly 
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ 
may rest upon me.  

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: 
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.  

COMMENTARY / APPLICATION

Celebration is a way of giving. The people wept openly when they 
heard God's laws and realized how far they were from obeying them. But 
Ezra told them they should be filled with joy because the day was 
holy. It was time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in need. 
Celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with 
giving. This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. 
Often when we celebrate and give to others, we are strengthened 
spiritually and filled with joy. Enter into celebrations that honor God, and 
allow him to fill you with his joy.  [Life Application SB] 

Cries of Hallelujah
Handel's masterpiece, The Messiah, has inspired millions through 
the centuries. Few know, however, that George Frederick Handel 
composed The Messiah in approximately three weeks. The music literally 
came to him in a flurry of notes and motifs. He composed feverishly, 
as if driven by the unseen Composer. It is also little known that 
Handel composed the work while his eyesight was failing or that he was 
facing the threat of debtor's prison because of outstanding bills. Most 
people find it difficult to create under stress, especially when 
physical or financial problems are the root of that stress. And yet, 
Handel did. 
He credits the completion of the work to one thing: joy. He was 
quoted as saying that he felt as if his heart would burst with joy at 
what he was hearing in his mind and heart. It was joy that compelled 
him to write, forced him to create, and ultimately found expression 
in the "Hallelujah Chorus." 
Handel lived to see his oratorio become a cherished tradition. 
He was especially pleased to see it performed to raise money for 
benevolent causes. 
When joy is present, Jesus Christ is expressed. [God's Little 
Devotional Bible] 

The greenest grass is found wherever the most rain falls. So I 
suppose it is the fog and mist of Ireland that makes it "the Emerald 
Isle." And wherever you find the widespread fog of trouble and the mist 
of sorrow, you always find emerald green hearts that are full of 
the beautiful foliage of the comfort and love of God. 
Dear Christian, do not say, "Where are all the swallows? They 
are all gone-they are dead." No, they are not dead. They have simply 
skimmed across the deep, blue sea, flying to a faraway land; but they 
will be back again soon. 
Child of God, do not say, "All the flowers are dead-the winter 
has killed them, so they are gone." No! Although the winter has 
covered them with a white coat of snow, they will push up their heads 
again and will be alive very soon. 
O believer, do not say that the sun has burned out, just because 
a cloud has hidden it. No, it is still there, planning a summer 
for you; for when it shines again, it will have caused those clouds 
to have dropped their April showers, each of them a mother to a 
sweet mayflower. 
Above all, remember-when God hides His face from you, do not say 
that He has forgotten you. He is simply waiting for a little while to 
help you love Him more. And once He comes, you will rejoice with the 
inexpressible "joy of the Lord" (Neh. 8:10). Waiting on Him exercises your 
gift of grace and tests your faith. Therefore continue to wait in 
hope, for although the promise may linger, it will never come too 
late. Charles H. Spurgeon re (Isaiah 30:18) [Streams In The Desert By 
Cowman] 

The joy of the Lord is the joy that springs up in our hearts 
because of our relationship to the Lord. It is a God-given gladness 
found when we are in communion with God. When our goal is to know more 
about the Lord, the byproduct is His joy. [Nelson SB]