Today’s Scripture Passage:
Nehemiah 8:1-12
Key Verse:
So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. Nehemiah 8:12 (NLT)
Have you ever gotten that AHA moment of understanding while reading your Bible? During a sermon? At a conference? Listening to the radio in your car? Chatting with a friend over a steaming sweet brew?
Have you ever had your initial joy turn to bitter regret? A hollowed out feeling of sorrow and shame? A desire to erase the understanding so you could eliminate the pain? Has your joy in reading your Bible ever turned to dreadful fear of the understanding it would bring?
If so, I understand. So did the Israelites in today’s Scripture passage.
In verse eight, God’s word was being explained and understood by the people.
In verse nine, they were weeping even while they listened.
In my younger years, I was like the Israelites. I totally missed the reason for celebration. I would gain understanding of God’s word, but I would allow the enemy to rob me of my initial joy.
Who’s the enemy? Satan is the enemy. He’s God’s enemy, AND he’s the enemy of every Jesus-follower. Satan is sometimes called the accuser because he stands before the LORD pointing a finger of accusation at us. He wants us to stand before the LORD condemned. He wants to rob us of our joy in Jesus and give us shame in exchange. And what better time to accuse than when we’ve just gained a new understanding of God’s word and how it applies to our lives?
So back to the people who were weeping instead of celebrating. They had missed the blessing of understanding and were wallowing in the pain of shame and regret.
Our son loved all things G.I. Joe as a child. I wish I had a nickel for everytime I heard (or said) the phrase, “Now you know, and knowing is half the battle. G.I. Joe!”
The same is true for us as Jesus-followers! Knowing is not a reason for weeping, but celebration. Understanding God’s word enables us to see we can make our choices differently.
Understanding frees us from the chains of misunderstanding. Chains confining us to where we are, doing the same things we’ve always done, and getting the same results we’ve always gotten.
These verses in Nehemiah are our reminder that God doesn’t give us understanding of His word so we will feel bad about our past choices. No! He’s freeing us to make life giving choices in the future.
It’s God’s gift to us every time we are given understanding of His word. So I say, “Let’s practice celebrating!” Yes, let’s definitely confess any sin our new understanding of God’s word reveals, but then let’s intentionally rejoice over our new understanding. Let’s celebrate the freedom we will get to exercise in making new choices. And while we’re celebrating, let’s embrace the struggle of learning to make those new choices.
LORD, thank You so much for Your word. Thank You for the people You use to help us understand Your word. Help us recognize our sin, but teach us to confess it and then leave it in our past. Help us receive Your forgiveness AND also forgive ourselves. Strengthen us with Your joy! Enable us to celebrate our freedom to choose new things and practice living all You’ve helped us understand. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
Psalm 119:45, 1st John 1:9, Galatians 5:1, & Philippians 3:12-16
Friend, there is no “right way” to read the Bible, but there is one thing I encourage everyone to do BEFORE you start reading; ask God to help you understand what you read. After all, the Bible is God’s word. It’s His message, so Who better to help You understand it’s purpose and meaning? You can read it in any order, but please read it. All of it. Then read it again, and again, and again.
If you’re not already a Jesus-follower, I promise, it’s a lifetime commitment you’ll never regret. Use the link to find out how to take your first step. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.