So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. – Nehemiah 8: 9-10

Starting off Sad

In chapter eight of the Nehemiah, the scribe Ezra is reading the Book of the Law in public to the people of Israel. When they hear it, their first reaction is to be sad. “All of the people wept when they heard the words of the law.” What is it about hearing the word of God that can make a person sad? Hearing the word can make you:

(1). Sad that you had never heard it before. Many of these people had spent the bulk of their lives in Babylonian bondage far away from the house of God and the word of God. These fresh and life changing words were brand new to them. They wondered why someone hadn’t told them about the law before.

(2). Sad that you finally heard it and now know that you have not been obedient to it. The good news was that they finally heard the word. The bad news is that upon hearing the word, they realized how far out of line with it their lives were.

(3). Sad because you are convicted by it. It is one thing to recognize that your life is out of line with the word of God. It is another thing to be sorry about that and convicted by it. Conviction comes from a heart that understands that it is not right with God and yet desperately wants to be.

Ending Up Glad

As the people of Israel wept, Nehemiah reminded them that the purpose of the word was not to make them sad, but to make them glad. He suggested that: (1). The day when you hear the word is a holy day and a happy day. This becomes the first day of the rest of a life lived in the light and under the enlightenment of God’s word. (v. 9). (2). The joy of the Lord is your strength. You should be happy because God has given you His joy and that joy is your strength. (v. 10). (3). When you understand the word, you will celebrate. Nehemiah told them this is no time to be sad. That is why…

…all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them. (v. 12)

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118: 24