Nehemiah 8:9 - Meaning and Application

We may notice here, first, how deeply the people were wounded by the words of the law that were read to them. The law brings death in the sense that it exposes sin, shows people their misery and danger because of sin, and pronounces a curse on everyone who does not keep all of God’s commands. So when they heard it, they all wept (Nehemiah 8:9). That was a good sign, because their hearts were tender, like Josiah’s when he heard the words of the law. They wept because they saw how they had offended God and how many times they had broken his law. When some wept, all wept, because they all saw themselves guilty before God.

Second, we see how they were healed and comforted by words of peace spoken to them. It was good that they were so affected by God’s word and that it made such an impression on them. But they must not give way to grief too much, especially at that time, because the day was holy to the Lord. It was one of the solemn feasts, a time for joy and praise. Even sorrow for sin must not keep us from rejoicing in God. Instead, it should lead us to that joy and prepare us for it.

The leaders of the assembly tried to calm them and encourage them. Nehemiah is mentioned here, and not earlier in this chapter. He noticed the people weeping. Ezra was glad to see them so moved by the word, but Nehemiah pointed out, and Ezra agreed, that this was not the right time for mourning. The day was holy, called a sabbath (Leviticus 23:24), so it should be kept with joy and praise, not as a day for humbling themselves in grief.

They told the people not to mourn or weep (Nehemiah 8:9). They said, “Do not be sad,” “Keep quiet,” and “Do not grieve” (Nehemiah 8:10, 11). Everything is beautiful when done at the right time. Just as we must not be cheerful when God calls us to mourn, so we must not frighten or wear ourselves down when God gives us reason to rejoice. Even sorrow for sin must not become so strong that it ruins our joy in God and our gladness in his service.

They also told the people to show their joy, to put on praise instead of a heavy spirit. They allowed them to celebrate by eating and drinking better than on other days, by enjoying the fat and the sweet. But this joy had to be joined with charity toward the poor. “Send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared,” so that your abundance may supply their need, and they may rejoice with you and bless you. Christ gives the same direction to those who make feasts, telling them to invite the poor (Luke 14:13). It is especially the duty of a religious feast, just as much as a religious fast, to reach out to the hungry (Isaiah 58:7, 10). God’s generosity toward us should make us generous toward others.

Many people enjoy the best food and drink for themselves, even to excess, but never send portions, or hardly even crumbs, to the poor. They may read their own warning in the story of the rich man (Luke 16:19 and following). Such people do not know, or do not think about, why God gave them their wealth. We should not only give to those who come asking. We should also send to those who are out of sight. A generous person plans generous things and looks for opportunities to help.

Their joy also had to be marked by piety and devotion. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” This was not to be a fleshly or worldly joy, but a holy and spiritual joy, joy in God’s goodness, guided by God’s grace, and arising from their share in his love and favor and the signs of that favor. This joy would be their strength, so they should welcome it. First, it would strengthen them for the rest of the duties of the feast. The more cheerful we are in worship, the more fully we will take part in it. Second, it would help them do everything else required by the law that had been read to them. Holy joy is like oil to the wheels of obedience. Third, it would strengthen them against enemies who were plotting against them. The joy of the Lord will arm us against spiritual attacks and make the pleasures of sin lose their taste.

The assembly followed these directions. Their weeping stopped (Nehemiah 8:11), and they made great rejoicing (Nehemiah 8:12). We should have such self-control over our feelings that, even if they rise strongly, they can soon be checked when we see that they are unreasonable or out of place. The person who has this kind of rule over his own spirit is better than the mighty.

After they had wept, they rejoiced. Holy sorrow makes room for holy gladness. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy. Those who tremble under the conviction of God’s word may later triumph in the comfort it gives. The reason for their joy was good, too. They did not rejoice simply because they had good food and drink or pleasant company, but because they understood the words that had been explained to them.

It is a great mercy to have the Holy Scriptures with us and help in understanding them, and we have every reason to rejoice in that mercy. Bibles and ministers are a joy to God’s people. The better we understand God’s word, the more comfort we will find in it, because much of our trouble comes from darkness in our own minds and from misunderstanding. When the words were first read to them, they wept. When they understood them, they rejoiced, because they saw that there were precious promises for those who repented and reformed, and so there was still hope for Israel.