It is well

It is well

Bible: Nehemiah 8:1-12

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your

strength (V.10).

Reading

Horatio G. Spafford’s four daughters all died when their ship crashed into another boat, leaving their mum as one of the few survivors. As Horatio later sailed to meet his wife, he wrote the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”. In his deep pain, he still found strength from the joy of knowing God was with him and looking after him. The Jewish people returned to Judah after exile in Babylon. With Nehemiah’s help, they’d managed to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, but there was still work to do (NEHEMIAH 7:4). As they tried to plan for their future, the people asked Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law. “[So Ezra] read it aloud from daybreak till noon . . . in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law” (8:1-3). While the people listened and had the words explained by the priests, they began to cry (V.9), probably with the realisation of how they had fallen so far short of God’s ways. In that moment, Nehemiah called out, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (V.10). Then all the people celebrated “with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them” (V.12). Jerusalem was still being rebuilt, but God’s words brought great joy. And so the people were strengthened to continue living for God and to keep on rebuilding. No matter our situation, we are also strengthened when we spend time in God’s words, knowing His promises, love and salvation for us.Horatio G. Spafford’s four daughters all died when their ship crashed into another boat, leaving their mum as one of the few survivors. As Horatio later sailed to meet his wife, he wrote the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”. In his deep pain, he still found strength from the joy of knowing God was with him and looking after him. The Jewish people returned to Judah after exile in Babylon. With Nehemiah’s help, they’d managed to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, but there was still work to do (NEHEMIAH 7:4). As they tried to plan for their future, the people asked Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law. “[So Ezra] read it aloud from daybreak till noon . . . in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law” (8:1-3). While the people listened and had the words explained by the priests, they began to cry (V.9), probably with the realisation of how they had fallen so far short of God’s ways. In that moment, Nehemiah called out, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (V.10). Then all the people celebrated “with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them” (V.12). Jerusalem was still being rebuilt, but God’s words brought great joy. And so the people were strengthened to continue living for God and to keep on rebuilding. No matter our situation, we are also strengthened when we spend time in God’s words, knowing His promises, love and salvation for us.

SOMETIMES GOD’S OWN PEOPLE NEED
TO BE REMINDED OF HIS TRUTH.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries