The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

by Pastor Mark
April 26, 2018

The challenge to find joy and strength in the Lord

No matter what we go through in life, if we are able to find joy, we would be able to find strength. When the people of Israel had returned and the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, the people gathered together and Ezra the scribe read to them the Scriptures. He encouraged them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh 8:10) Why did Ezra tell the people not to sorrow?

The sorrows of life can rob us of our joy and strength

What were some of the sorrows that the people of Israel had experienced?

  1. The sorrow of 70 years of captivity…of 70 years lost due to their sinful ways.
  2. The sorrow of seeing Jerusalem utterly destroyed…especially the temple and the walls.
  3. The sorrow of not hearing the Word of God…Israel also had not heard the Word of God for such a long time. When they finally heard it, they wept and felt great sorrow (Neh 8:9)

Sources of joy that would bring us strength

1. The joy of the occasion brings occasional strength

a. The joy of celebration…the people felt joy and strength as they celebrated the occasion.

b. The joy of worship…they had not worshipped the Lord in this manner for such a long time. This was a holy day dedicated for worship. The occasion for worship brought joy.

c. The joy of fellowshipping over food…Israel were told to eat the fat and drink the sweet. Eating and fellowshipping together would have brought joy.

d. The joy of sharing. They gave portions to those who had not prepared anything.

2. The lasting joy of the Scriptures brings lasting strength

a. Understanding the sense of the word

Ezra stood on the platform in front of all the people and read the Law. The Levites helped in giving the sense of the Law so that the people could understand, “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.” (Neh 8:8) There was greater understanding of the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Word.

b. Finding joy in the Word

“And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.” (Neh 8:12)

The people did not just rejoice in the fellowship. Their greater joy was because they understood the Word of God. The moment of delight in understanding the Scriptures always brings an uplift to the heart. We experience a special encouragement to heart when Pastor explains something and gives the sense of the Word. Joy enters the heart and strength comes.

Appreciating the strength that the joy of the Lord gives

How strong is the joy of the Lord?

  1. The joy of the Lord gives spiritual strength…drawn from the Scriptures.
  2. The joy of the Lord gives significant strength…as it can change your disposition of sorrow to one of joy and life.
  3. The joy of the Lord gives lasting strength…not only for the occasion but for each day.
  4. The joy of the Lord gives the Lord’s strength…it can only come from the Lord.

Let us be challenged to find the joy of the Lord in knowing the Scriptures and to have strength from the Lord for each day.

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