Scripture
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don't be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Observation
The exiles have returned and the city walls are rebuilt.

The people gather in the square, and Ezra reads the Law of the Lord. A first, there is great rejoicing- people clap and shout “Amen!”, and they worship God.

Then the Levites instruct the people in smaller groups- possibly in Aramaic, the language they spoke in Babylon rather than the Hebrew in which the Law was read. As they come to understand the Law, there is great sadness and much weeping.

Nehemiah encourages them that this is a day for rejoicing not weeping for the joy of the Lord is their strength.

Application
True repentance must be accompanied by tears. We must understand the depth of our sin in order to be saved from it. But weeping must give way to laughing. Realisation of sin is not enough. When we understand that our sin is forgiven then we move from tears of regret to tears of joy.

Wow! I was so bad, so lost in my sin, but God loves me with an everlasting love and He forgives me! Awesome!

Prayer
Thank you Jesus for saving me. Thank you for lifting me out of sin into the kingdom of God. Thank you for the joy of the Lord is my strength. Amen.