07/12/2026
July 12 Sermon. THE JOY OF THE LORD Nehemiah 8
Robert Louis Stevenson once entered in his diary what he considered to be an extraordinary thing. He said, “I have been to Church today, and (Surprisingly) I am not depressed.” Christians are called to be joyful in all circumstances. Christian concepts of joy are different from the worlds. The Joy of the Lord is the result of God’s work in our hearts (Galatians 5:22). Christ didn’t come that you might have sadness, He came that you might have a full life. (John 10:10)
The book of Nehemiah records a time when Israel is coming back into their homeland after spending 70 years in exile. They began to rebuild their home in the ‘land of promise’. Israel is regaining her homeland and returning to faith. The book of the law had been discovered and Nehemiah calls together the people and has Ezra conduct a public reading of God’s law. The Israelites had different stages of reaction to the law: First, they fell into repentant sorrow. Second, they began to praise and worship the Lord. Third, they celebrated the “Feast of Booths” as the law commanded. The result was great joy! Nehemiah told them, “The Joy of the Lord is your strength.” Where can we find the joy of the Lord in our lives, giving us strength?
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