THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH

By Dr. Eric C. Stumpf, Senior Pastor

St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church � Munster, IN

January 24, 2010 + Epiphany 3 (C) + Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

      Let us pray: Grant us, O Lord, the Holy Spirit to make us attentive to Your Word, turn our hearts to repentance, and rejoice in Your forgiveness.  Amen.

One of the first video's that came out of Haiti, after the terrible 7.0 earthquake, showed Port-au-Prince, the capital, in a valley just as the earthquake hit.  Clouds of dust rose up over the whole city, as if it was enveloped in a fog.  The person taking the video cried out "the world is gonna come to an end." 

In the days that followed we saw more and more evidence of the destruction visited on that country. 

The Haitian disaster is the closest comparison today to what happened 2500 years ago. Imagine the same level of destruction and hardship, not as a result of natural disaster, but by the hand of man.

 The Story

      The Old Testament lesson is from the book of Nehemiah.  We may remember when we memorized the books of the Bible that Ezra and Nehemiah went together.  This is the only time in the 3 year cycle of lessons that we will hear from this book, so I was especially interested in delivering its message to you this morning.

      Jerusalem experienced total destruction some 2500 years ago not by earthquake, but by the hand of man.  The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and believed in a scorched earth policy � utterly destroy your enemy, kill as many people as possible and enslave the rest.  Israel fell to this doom in 587 BC when Jerusalem was utterly destroyed and the people taken captive.  No nation came to their rescue, no one contribute to their relief.

      Some 50 years later the Babylonians were defeated by the Persians who had a different policy.  Where the Babylonians destroyed, the Persians built; where the Babylonians enslaved, the Persians restored people to their homeland.  Cyrus the Persian decreed captive people, including Israelites, could return home.  Few did, however.  Most had grown accustomed to the good life in Persia and stayed.  But some did go back.

      Zerubabbal, a descendant of the last king, lead a group as the new Persian governor;  Yeshua came as the new High Priest, and other pioneer spirited Israelites came back to a desolate land to rebuild.  They rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation for a new temple, but 18 years would pass before the temple was rebuilt.  People became more concerned with making a living, getting along with their neighbors, and their own safety.    Seventy years would pass with Jerusalem troubled by antagonistic neighbors and raiding nomads.  Two important men would come from Persia sent by the King to help troubled Jerusalem, Ezra the priest and Nehemiah the new governor.

      Nehemiah quickly figured out the problem.  Jerusalem needed security, they needed their walls repaired.  In an astounding 58 days he pressed every able bodied person to work with a trowel in one hand and a spear in the other.  In spite of raiding neighbors the walls were repaired, Jerusalem was safe again, and could prosper.  It was a time to rededicate themselves.  They needed to know who they were and what their purpose was.

      We know the date.  It was the first day of their seventh month in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes' reign, or mid-September 445 BC.  It was called the Feast of Trumpets, probably to wake everyone up and get their attention in the early hours of morning, to assemble and hear the law of the Lord read to them until about noon. 

      The reaction of the people was first to weep with sadness on their sins.  Second, with joy they celebrated God grace and feasted.  The key phrase, a verse well worth remembering and holding close in days when we need God, is Don�t grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

 What Does This Mean? The Law Speaks.

      When Israel heard the Word of God they wept.  There was such an emptiness and need in their life for God's Word that they responded like an orphan in Haiti weeps when they are not chosen by a family.  They yearned for God�s Word like a long distance runner yearns for water and rest.  Israel was without the Word for so long because they had set their priorities away from God.  Secondly they wept because they saw their lives in the mirror of the law and found it came up short.  They wept over their sins knowing that their suffering was due to their sinful rebellion.  They wept because they realized that they were committing the same sins their forefathers had committed which brought such destruction upon themselves.

      Do you weep when you hear the Word of God?  Are you convicted by your sins?  Do you miss the fatherly direction God has for you?  Are you tired of striking out on your own only to find yourself lost?  Do you thirst for God�s wisdom and direction?  Are you parched from the sinful life you lead thinking it would be sweet, but instead it is a bitter sorrow in your life?  Are you reliving the sins that you know will hurt you and still you stubbornly hold on to them?  God's Holy Word speaks to our sinful actions and calls us to the strength of the Lord.

 What Does This Mean?  The Gospel Heals.

      After hearing the law and crying tears of repentance they heard the Words of Good News, the Gospel brought healing in their lives.  The day was declared holy.  They were urged not to mourn or weep (v. 9a)  Eat and drink and send portions to anyone not ready � celebrate the forgiveness and grace of God.

      Israel rejoiced that God had forgiven them.  He had delivered them from their captivity in Babylon as their forefathers were delivered from Egypt.  They were forgiven and restores to their land of promise.  The strength of the Lord was their joy.  From the incredible ability to rebuild the walls in 58 days to restoring their homes, God was supplying them with joy and strength.  Even now the generosity of God was overflowing their cups; they had more than enough to share with others so the full joy of God could be experienced.

      Is the Gospel bringing joy into your life?  Have you received the full healing the Gospel brings to repentant hearts?  The Gospel shows us God's better way : in Jesus, the Risen Savior, we have life and have it more abundantly.  The illusions of sin try to convince us that it can offer happiness, but it fails miserably.  Hearing the Word and living its promise and power is the true happiness of God's people.  In the Gospel we have the promise spoken to Israel 2500 years ago, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.  It is still so today.  When we receive and count on that joy of the Lord for our strength we are also empowered to be a source of blessing to others.  Then our joy is complete. 

 Amen.

SDG