How to Receive Gladness For Sorrow in a Worship Service (Nehemiah 8:9-12)

What this episode covers

Americans have never been unhappier and the worship service in America has never been emptier. A survey conducted in May of 2020 found that just 14% of American adults considered themselves “very happy”. They have conducted this survey since 1972. In the past 50 years the percentage of people who rated themselves “very happy” had never dropped below 29%. We all experience seasons of unhappiness. Stress can creep into our lives slowly, or broadside us like a freight train. We never want to minimize the challenges we face. This passage does not suggest a shallow response. We cannot place a happy mask on our face and expect the pain to disappear. Regardless of your present state, this is a critical time in our world to understand how we can increase the peace and joy that we and our neighbors experience. Another survey (2019) showed that those who were actively religious were 44% more likely to rate themselves “very happy”. In other words, you have a good chance of increasing your joy simply by attending a church worship service more regularly! So I’m preaching to the choir this morning. Recap and Preview of Passage The people in our passage have apparently remained standing (Neh 8:5) somewhere near the Water Gate as they listened to Ezra preach from “the Book of the Law of Moses” for five to six hours (Neh 8:3). Last week, we considered the priority, posture, and purpose of preaching in Neh 8:1-8. If you missed it, you should give it a listen—though I can’t do anything about the happiness you already forfeited by not being here. The focus this week is on how the people responded to the preaching of God’s Word. Interestingly enough, the first response to Ezra’s preaching was not joy, but sorrow. The Law of God brought everyone under the conviction of their past and present rebellion. Ironically, this is the very reaction that prepared them to experience true joy and lasting peace. Read Nehemiah 8:9-12. A Worship Service Should Involve Mourning (9) Remember, this is “the first day of the seventh month” (Neh 8:2). It was the Feast of the Trumpets, a festival that kicked off an important season of celebration in the Jewish calendar. It was “a day of solemn rest” accompanied with the blast of trumpets and food offerings, as the people remembered God’s work in the past (Lev 23:23-25). The Day of Atonement (Lev 23:26) and the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:33-44; Neh 7:13-18) followed. Every seven years they were to read more extensively from the Law, as Ezra has already done (Deut 31:10-13). That would make this a sabbatical year, “a year of release”. Farmers took the year off to give the land a rest (Ex 23:10f). They forgave debts (Deut 15:1-3) and set Hebrew slaves free (Deut 15:12-18). It makes sense considering Nehemiah’s rebuke of the abuse of debts and slavery in chapter five. Why would God command them to follow such an elaborate religious calendar? Festivals were a time of holy celebration. They learned about God’s preservation of their ancestors. Children learned about their heritage in a fun and engaging atmosphere. Imagine spending a week camping under the stars, with temporary shelters, as you remember God’s preservation of the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness. The experience ingrained these events and laws in their minds. Last week, I emphasized the importance of children attending the worship service along with their parents. We believe this is a critical aspect of the way we nurture them in the admonition of the Lord. I encourage you to read the brochure that we have prepared for visitors titled “Children in Worship”. You should’ve a copy of it in your bulletin this morning. However, while we believe it is crucial for them to learn in the context of a worship service, we also recognize the value of learning in an interactive way. They should have fun during the fellowship time. Kids learn best in a relaxed environment. Let’s make our potluck fellowship intentional,

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.