Repentance is an integral part in our walk with Jesus, yet it is rarely a practice we’re eager to learn about. It isn’t exactly fun to examine areas where we have sinned, strayed, and turned to our own ways. From the beginning, humanity has held the desire to go our own way and hide in shame from the Lord. The truth is, not much has changed since Adam and Eve’s fig leaf days. From the demands of life that distract us away from the Word to the ”small” step into sin that snowballs into a stronghold, we have all experienced the sorrow of being distant from God. As a result we may wear our shame as a banner.
As we fall to temptation, we may carry the title of sin through our lives. Let’s take a moment to reflect on times when we have fallen short and although we were repentant, may have rehashed our shortcomings over and over—we may have labeled ourselves as “liar,” “failure,” or “fraud,” and spent time and energy on our grief rather than His goodness.
Yet repentance does not require living in shame.
Repentance brings us restoration with the Lord.
From today’s reading we look at the people gathered at the Water Gate on the first day of the seventh month. The people came as one (Nehemiah 8:1), desiring to hear Scripture (vv.6–7) and wept over the sins they had committed. We see the people displaying pure humility by unifying themselves, attentively listening to the law and bowing and weeping in worship of God. The sorrow of a torn relationship with their Creator was all consuming. Our God responded through Ezra with a comfort: Celebrate this holy day of restoration rather than focus on their sin in mourning.
Repentance is not a spotlight on our shortcomings. Repentance is a restoration of what was lost and can be a celebration of what is now found.
Do not grieve, because the joy of the LORD is your strength.
—Nehemiah 8:10
God’s response to repentance is to reveal His joy in us. When the law exposed their faults, God saw their humble hearts. Where the people grieved their missteps, God saw their desire to rebuild with Him.
While it is good to grieve our own sin, God gently reminds us to not wear the label of it. Instead of focusing on our failures, God calls us to celebrate and praise His goodness to forgive and rebuild. We are not consumed by sin. We are set free to repent and celebrate who our God is. Today, let this reading of Scripture bring you to stillness, repentance, and unity with our Creator. His joy in us will bring us strength.
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124 thoughts on "Public Reading of the Law"
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Amen
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God is good!
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Guy calls us to celebrate and praise is goodness to forgive and rebuild.
I am very grateful for today’s reading. Instead of focusing on our failures,
Praise God! He is so worthy of our praise!
Thank you all for sharing today. I am praying for the requests as I read them. Running a little late and behind. So grateful for the insight of you beautiful women.
I am grateful for today’s reading and devotional and the reminder that there is a difference between true repentance and shame over sin. I find that this is something I struggle with sometimes – holding onto the sins that I have committed, allowing them to be more of a negative rmeinder of where I have fallen short RATHER than allowing them to be a space for restoration with the Lord. For instance, I somtimes find myself remembering back to when I was a child and I stole a toy from my cousin. The toy was returned and I was able to ask forgiveness, BUT my brain still thinks of that (some 25+ years later). I pray that the Lord would continue to guide me into true repentance – the repentance that leads to restoration with Him!
I do have a prayer request today as well. My grandfather-in-law broke his foot over the weekend (while changing some lightbulbs at his church) and was scheduled this morning for surgery. The surgery itself went well, but he isn’t coming out of the anesthesia very well and is being admitted to the hospital for observation overnight. Prayers for him – that he would come out of the anesthesia better and that he would have patience in the healing (he likes to keep busy!) – would be much appreciated.
Kira H- that’s a hard deal! Prayers for swift recovery (and that the anesthesia wears off soon and leaves no dangerous side effects. Also prayers for patience! A good friend of ours is very active but currently sidelined from activity. That is so hard! ❤
I love this reminder to not hold onto grief over sin. Doing so does not make us more holy or more godly. God wants our thankfulness, joy, and celebration at being forgiven of our sins completely and fully and forever. Feel the lightness. Feel like you can breathe again. He sets you free. ❤️
“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked” (1 John 2:3–6). I love this. The word “know” stood out to me, and brought to mind this verse, “Now Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived…” (Genesis 4:1). Knowing and conceiving. Hmmm. Knowing and Conceiving. Input and Output. Conceiving is always the sign to check if the knowing is real. Has spiritual fruitfulness been conceived? Love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we know Christ, much fruit is born (“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5). We should not just know about HIM like we know about a celebrity, that kind of shallow knowing won’t conceive anything. This is personal one-on-one encounter, ongoing fellowship, that takes loyalty, devotion and sacrifice. We are HIS bride and He is our bridegroom. To know God is to be committed to Him in intimate love, to walk as He walks all the days of our lives, not just recognize Him from a distance. A virtuous wife seeks to please her husband, and not grieve Him. “Her husband has full confidence in her…, she brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:11). The more we know Him, the more we love Him. And the more we love Him, the less room there is for rebellion. He is our joy. He is our reward. Wow, what a beautiful marriage. In that day, we will fully know Him, even as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12) and for now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then we shall see Him face to face. Do not be grieved -I noticed that today as well. As we wait for His return, the groaning inside can feel strong, even the whole creation has been groaning. The reminder was repeated three times: do not mourn or weep; do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength; Be quiet, for this day is holy, do not be grieved. Grief has its place, but not forever. Ecclesiastes 3:4: “A time to weep, and a time to laugh”. Put on joy, golden joy (TINA ❤️). Be blessed dear sisters.
Oh So Good! I am going to have to copy this. We should conceive good fruit! I like this sentence- “This is a personal one-on-one encounter, ongoing fellowship, that takes loyalty, devotion and sacrifice.” I did not have that in my younger life…it was a one sided relationship that I knew about him, all about him, from church. But the relationship part just didn’t make sense to me. I certainly didn’t sacrifice anything, or have loyalty to his laws and ways. I did have reverence though. Although I do feel shameful, it’s not in a way that buries me, it is just sad, but the JOY that he forgives me is amazing! I love the new term to me…Golden Joy! Thank you Tina!
You give us so much good wisdom my friend!
“He is our joy. He is our reward. Wow, what a beautiful marriage. In that day, we will fully know Him, even as we are fully known.”
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Mercy, this is so beautiful! It reminded me of the nuns in Sister Act singing, “I love Him, I love Him, I love Him and where He goes I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow.” ☺
The secular song: I Will Follow Him
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Thank you for your prayers. It did subside fairly quickly. We were driving to the mountains so I’m very thankful.
I wrote down so many notes from the devotional today. So much goodness in there!
Praise God. I live near the mountains too and when air pressure changes, i experience something like that.
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Good morning! Such a beautiful truth, we celebrate our forgiveness and know that our joy of the Lord is indeed our strength.
Amen! Praise Jesus! We are free to live in joy!
Hallelujah!!
I love praising with my hands up, free, living in Joy. Even when we are in sorrows and trials, or hurt! The JOY he gives us overwhelms!
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Amen!
Yom Yippur is the day we go before the Lord as a community and we fast and repent before G-d. Because the Temple is no longer standing there is no need for sacrifice. The prayers are the sacrifices.This is the holiest most sacred day of the year. It is a Shabbat of Shabbats. It is the superlative of all Jewish holidays. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
One day our Jewish brothers and sisters will see that Jesus paid it all. Every day atonement is possible. Pray for the opening of their eyes and the revelation of the true Messiah. Jesus. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The peace of Jerusalem is when they recognize receive Jesus as the Messiah. May their eyes be opened.
“Shalom, Shalom Jerusalem. Peace be unto you. When Messiah comes to carry us home, may his praise be found in you.” Paul Wilbur.
May all your names be inscribed in the Book of Life.
Wow so good! Please feel free to share more :))
AMEN!! Every day atonement is possible!
Agreeing! ❤
Thank you all for your words of comfort. Yes “B” and Searching, it will be livestreamed. Reading the Word today in Nehemiah is important as we pass God’s Truth for now and the next generation. It will not return void!!
Here is my niece’s tribute to my brother and our family. The baton has been passed to the next generation:
I leave today for Kansas to pay my respect to my Uncle Darrell who was a Gideon. He passed out bibles for years! Thats why I love it! Our Family is a deeply rooted Mennonite family, old Gospel and Hymnns. My Family is full of preachers, Gideon, Missionaries, Bible school teachers, Bible study teachers, my Dad was more Evangelist and my great grandfather was a bishop. My dad preached on spiritual warfare! Some preached more on love and some spread the word by handing out bibles and speaking to spread it to all ends of the earth. We are Saying goodbye to these gladiators of the Gospel, who taught us for years and showed us how to. We are the next generation up to bat, to do what God has called us to do, and teach the little ones behind us to know our only true God, and his mighty power, and Name!
It’s up to us to carry those memories and works forward. Whether there is more of us or less of us still here, the word is mighty, its strong, its true, and will destroy every work of the devil! Our family name carried thru all the years has been nothing short of an army carrying forth the instructions for Our God! And one day, as my uncle is now a witness, we will someday also spend eternity with our Father in Heaven.
So beautiful of a legacy. Thank you so much ELAINE for sharing this precious tribute so we can learn from his life’s works.
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Elaine, what a beautiful tribute and ‘souvenir’! I am sure it is a balm for your spirit. Hugs and love as we pray for you across the miles. ❤
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Good morning. I want to respond and like all of the commments and responses for today but time does not permit. Thank you for sharing:)
How often do we forget or overlook the great privilege it is to have access and in our possession, a Bible? And, multiple copies and formats at that. Sitting in my chair I have 5 physical copies in my view, 2 commentaries, a separate copy of Psalms and the Bible app on my phone. It is so easy to take that for granted. As we read our scripture for today, we see a people gathered, standing for hours, just to hear the Word of the Lord and it deeply pentrates their hearts. It moves them, teaches them, convicts them and brings forth acknowledgement of sin leading to repentance. All too often, I can check the box to read, but don’t give space to let it sink in and seep to the crevices of my heart, to change me and bring about repentance. I need the picture of our passages today to remind me of the respect, reverence and undivided attention God’s Word should have in my daily life to lead me along with the importance of repentance so that restoration and transformation can take place in my heart and my life.
“Repentance is not a spotlight on our shortcomings. Repentance is a restoration of what was lost and can be a celebration of what is now found.
Do not grieve, because the joy of the LORD is your strength.
—Nehemiah 8:10”
Lord, thank you for your Word and that have so lovingly given it us to teach and lead us. Forgive me for the times that I do not give you and your Word the rightful place and attention they are do. Remove the distractions that so easily creep in and give me a renewed sense of desire, longing, seeking and love for the privilege of having a Bible in hand and to be in relationship and fellowship with you Father. Work in my life, transform my heart and lead me in your ways. Thank you that you are our strength. Amen.
Thank you for your prayers my dear SRT sisters. I finally received CT scan results yesterday and had consult with my oncologist. Thankfully, and praise the Lord, there has been no further metastasis noted. However, the 2 spots/tumors have both grown by 1mm from the previous scan 6 months ago. Its not the worst news, but it is discouraging and concerning. At this point, I need to decide to begin treatment or wait 3 months, do another scan and check growth/size. My oncologist feels that either option is very reasonable at this time and this just needs to be based on what I feel comfortable with. Please pray wisdom and discernment in this. I am so conflicted and not sure how to proceed and if this is the time to begin treatment. For the time being, I do have the 3 month scan booked but am taking some time to further pray. Thank you❤️
Father God in the name of Jesus given Wendy B guidance and direction on how she should move forward. You all knowing G-d know what the best option is for her. Guide her through treatments, doctor’s appointments, and calm any fears that may be trying to distract her. Tumor, oncologist, treatments are scary words for us but Lord you are more powerful than any of these. In the name of Jesus, amen
AMEN
yes, amen!
Praying for wisdom and discernment
“give me a renewed sense of desire, longing, seeking and love for the privilege of having a Bible in hand and to be in relationship and fellowship with you Father. Work in my life, transform my heart and lead me in your ways. Thank you that you are our strength. Amen.”
And I repeat an amen. Prayers for you as you discern the next steps
Praying dear Wendy. May wisdom, strength and peace be poured out for you and the medical team.
Wendy, prayers for discernment, peace, confirmation in your eventual decision. Also praying that if you opt to wait that no growth occurs with the tumors!PTL for the good part of the report! ❤
Praying for wisdom and total healing!
THIS, reading gave me SO much encouragement! I wish I had more time to comment, but I ran out of time. I’ll try to come back during one of my breaks. BUT I will say it again. I’m so encouraged! I needed this SO much!
I was convicted as mentioned earlier of how we take for granted our access to God’s word. We have our physical Bibles (I have many), our study books, our phones, our apps,computers-so much access. And yet, the only way they heard Gods word was for it to be read to them publicly. And the thought of standing for most likely 6 hours (before daybreak to noon) 7 days in a row. Can you imagine?
I’m excited to have my time in the Word every day and feel great if I get 15 minutes in or on a really good day a solid hour in the morning. Convicting. It makes me so thankful for access to Gods word. Also a reminder of those in countries who don’t feel the freedom to gather and study His word together safely and their need for our prayers. Lots to ponder. Feeling grateful for His Word, his forgiveness and our access to the living and active Word of God. Hebrews 4:12
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Yes, I agree DW! So many people in the world are persecuted for their faith. And many would love to have a Bible in their language still. That is one reason I had my small group meet outside of our Panera. It’s really nice to sit in a public space like that with our Bibles in front of us and praying together. We have made many friends!
My takeaways today: Revere the Word, Listen to the Word, Study the Word, Feast on the Word (read it over and over) and Find joy in the Word.
Psalm 1:1-3 – 1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Amen!
Amen Tami! oh the joys.
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Amen! “stand around with sinners-”
hmm, I don’t want nothing to steal my joy…oy,..oy, na,na,nan. (another Josiah Queen song!)
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The joy of the Lord is my strength! Calling on Him today for reassurance & strength as I interview for another job. His timing is perfect! Praying over requests in the comments!
Good luck Susan, praying if it is God’s plan for you, it will be a success!!
Thank you Rhonda!
Praying
Amen.
Oh we take the word of the LIVING GOD for granted. We have dusty Bibles, but yet are absorbed in mindless tictocs and fb posts when we have down time. We don’t want to stay over time at church so we can watch a 4 hour sports event. We are so busy that we don’t have time to sign up for a small group. These are important things in our walk with God. Reading the Bible, God’s living and moving word, conversation with us, is the MOST important thing we can do. Gathering with other saints is also good, not just to read the word together, but to discuss and translate it (unpack) it together. To have each other to hold us accountable, pray together, and GROW!! God’s word transforms!! Transformation! What we didn’t understand a year ago now has clarity. What we didn’t “see” a decade ago, the shields are removed from our eyes. I can attest that being in a good church has transformed my Christian life to a Christ-following life! His ways our God! His instructions are not to hinder us, they are to set us free.
Thank you Kelly for reminding me to hop over to HRT today! He laid it out well. Our sin should break our hearts because it is against our God. But God, merciful and full of grace! I have no condemnation in Christ, but I do have to recognize and grieve in my own fault. Then I can be joyful that I am washed white as snow in Jesus!! We can’t know LIGHT without living in the dark.
To gather as a nation to praise God seemed unfathomable a month ago. I never thought it could happen, I thought we were too far gone, But God our God can use things that were for meant for harm, to turn for his good and for those that love him! There is amazing revival! We should be thrilled new people are coming to church! Keep my eyes on you Lord, and your word. It is laid out for us to see, even a special blessing for those that read what is to come. We are waiting for you to take us home, but want to share with everyone we can that doesn’t know him. We plow the ground, plant the seeds and water. Or even more amazing…lead them in the sinner’s prayer!!
Praying with you Rhonda that the churches and Christians are blessed and equipped to encourage, inspire and feed the lambs!
We got dust on our Bible’s and brand new i- phones.” I started singing the song,” We wonder why we feel this way.We walk with our eyes close. Blind leading blind folk.
Yep, that’s what I was singing! And so true!
You amazed me. ❤️❤️❤️ much love sister.
(heart)
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I’ve been known to skim through what feels to me like excessive detail in some novels – my apologies to the authors who carefully considered every word they wrote.
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Do I ever read God’s word the same way, forgetting 2 Timothy 3:16-17?
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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The children of Israel listened carefully to the word of God, understood and owned up to their sins, wept, repented and then rejoiced that they were forgiven.
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Do we, mostly having God’s word at our fingertips, listen/read, acknowledge, weep, repent and rejoice?
Or do we categorize or justify our sins as ‘not sins’ in an attempt to avoid repenting and giving up our favorites?
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I’m a work in progress…
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Prayer request for an anticipated interaction today – if I am confronted, that I will be able to clearly, calmly and respectfully express the issues.
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I heard a noise as I walked by a creek flowing under the road this morning – there was doe standing mid creek taking a drink, so I’ve had the lyrics running through my mind from As The Deer (written by Martin J Nystrom, 1984):
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As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
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You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
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MOLLIE – ❤️ praying for your needed healing
CEE GEE ❤️ great share yesterday, and you beat me to sharing BG verse for today :)
INDIANA ELAINE ❤️ praying as you grieve and so sorry the service is too far to attend. I loved B’s suggestion about possibly live streaming. Or maybe recording if streaming isn’t possible. Are you able to have someone read your thoughts/love for your brother at the service?
TRACI GENDRON ❤️ praying vertigo is gone!
A WALTON ❤️ love seeing you here!
MERCY ❤️ thank you!
NICOLE BURKE – awesome history!
RHONDA J ❤️ praying for your son, I see it happening all around. They’ve heard the truth, then believe a lie over it. Heartbreaking.
And have you thought about whether you could have the cassette tapes copied to a digital file like can be done with vhs tapes?
MARGARET W ❤️
TANYA ❤️
Praying for your conversation today and that God will give you wisdom to speak in truth and love.
Love that song and miss singing it in church.
Praying for you, sister- for just the right words, tone, and confidence…fairness from the other side.
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Great shares. Amen!
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Lifting you up in prayer! May the Holy Spirit bring you comfort and wisdom to know what to say in this interaction.
Praying for a good outcome and favors for the interaction. You are so peaceful and composed. What a blessing you are❤️.
I heard a great statement yesterday, “If the devil can distract you, he doesn’t need to destroy you.” I think often we can get caught up in the distraction of our own failures. Focused on ourselves, and we allow it to cripple us, instead of moving on to a place of meditating on God, His greatness, and His calling. Lord help me live my life every day as someone the devil wants to destroy! ❤️
Worthy reminder, Kari Jae! ❤
Prayer request for physical and mental healing❤️
Praying, Mollie, that our God would bring healing and peace to every part of your body.
Praying for you Mollie!
Praying for you Mollie.
I need some physical healing today too! My body feels like I went through a car wash!!
Praying you will be healed Mollie.
Praying for total healing,mollie
Praying MOLLIE, we declare God’s promises over you and your situation that you are healed. Exodus 15:26 – “I am the Lord, your healer”, Jeremiah 30:17 – “For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord”, Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit”.❤️
Praying, Mollie! ❤
Every time I fall short of my sins, I am shameful. Asking God for forgiveness after willingly committing a sin will always be my set back, because I knew better. It was comforting to read that repentance doesn’t focus on failure or shortcomings but, instead celebrates restoration and reconnection.
Am I approaching God’s Word like the Israelites — eager and open?
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Is my obedience driven by love or by fear?
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Where might God be calling me to repent — and then rejoice — in His mercy?
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Father, thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Word. Help me not just to hear it but to live it. Give me a heart that delights in Your commands — not out of duty, but out of love. Teach me to walk as Jesus walked, and to find joy in knowing You more. Amen.
“Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength” Nehemiah 8:10
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“…what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love Him and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12
Thank you Kimberly.
Amen❤️
Amen! ❤
Ditto to all those who agree we take easy, multi-available access to the Word of God for granted!
Father, please restore to us an absolute reverence and respect for Your Word. As it divides truth from error, may we fall on our faces in repentance and seek Your forgiveness. Amen!
I’m so thankful that when we mess up, our sin isn’t our label, He forgives and forgets when we give Him our repentance..His joy is our strength!
Amen
Thank you lord for your mercy and forgiveness and for making me new in you
“Repentance is not a spotlight on our shortcomings. Repentance is a restoration of what was lost and can be a celebration of what is now found.”
We have addressed this many times in our comments here. Great reminder!
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Biblegateway verse of the day!!!:
1 John 2:1
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
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Once again I read some helpful study notes from Wiersbe:
Ezra read and explained the Book. The common people didn’t own copies of the Scriptures, so they were thrilled to hear the Word of God. Ezra and his assistants made sure the law was explained to the people in a language they could understand. The Word was translated and expounded in such a way that the people were able to apply it to their lives. The Hebrew language would have undergone some changes since the days when Moses wrote the Pentateuch, and the everyday conversational Hebrew of the people would have differed in some ways from ancient Hebrew. We need new translations of the Bible, not because the Bible changes, but because our language changes.
The Word of God brings conviction and leads to repentance, but it also brings us joy, for the same Word that wounds also heals. “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jer. 15:16). “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 19:8). “Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart” (Ps. 119:111).
On 8:11-
Nehemiah convinced the people to stop mourning and start celebrating. Mourning when God has forgiven us is as wrong as rejoicing when sin has conquered us. The sinner has no reason for rejoicing, and the forgiven child of God has no reason for mourning (Matt. 9:9–17). Yes, as God’s children we carry burdens and know what it is to weep (Neh. 2:1, 2), but we also experience power that transforms sorrow into joy. The secret of Christian joy is to believe what God says in His Word and act upon it. Faith that isn’t based on the Word is not faith at all; it is presumption or superstition. Joy that isn’t the result of faith is not joy at all; it is only a good feeling that will soon disappear. Faith based on the Word will produce joy that will weather the storms of life.
On 8:18-
The world’s joy is temporary and artificial; and when the joy is gone, people are left with even greater weakness and emptiness. But the joy that comes from the Lord is real and lasting and enriches our lives. God doesn’t give us joy instead of sorrow, or joy in spite of sorrow, but joy in the midst of sorrow. It is not substitution but transformation.
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Those notes really helped me ‘get a picture’ of what was happening. A lot!!! A week long celebration beginning with their version of our ‘new year’- Tanya can explain that better,, but I think she mentioned it yesterday. ☺
I am reminded of the week long revivals we used to have which usually ended with a time of meal fellowship.
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Final note: Our pastor requests that all who are able stand during the reading of God’s Word. I love that practice of honoring God.
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Two songs came to mind- because of v. 21 in the Deut. passage: “He is your praise. He is your God…”
The songs:
#1- Every Praise Is to Our God by Hezekiah Walker
#2- There’s Joy in the House of the Lord by Phil Wickham
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Thank you Cee Gee, love the notes from Wiersbe!! Faith that isn’t based on the Word is not faith at all; it is presumption or superstition. Joy that isn’t the result of faith is not joy at all; it is only a good feeling that will soon disappear. Faith based on the Word will produce joy that will weather the storms of life.”
Our pastor has a stand for the reading of the word as well. Usually after we just sit down after singing for 30 minutes and I sit anxiously and get my Bible and journal on my lap, lol. I should know by now. It is a beautiful practice.
Love the Phil Wickham song. Their performance Sunday was so beautiful! And the cello and violin!! So good.
“Mourning when God has forgiven us is as wrong as rejoicing when sin has conquered us.” So good! We are not to wallow in self-pity (self-focused) but instead, move to a place of greatful celebration of just how good our God is (God-focused). ❤️
Dwelling on sin to me is also putting up walls. Praying I can repent and allow myself to be vulnerable to others. Amen.
Yes, that is so hard. We want to keep it in, but sharing it is so freeing, and God uses it for someone else!!
I am starting a group that is doing “My Story His Glory,” by Matthew West that helps people recognize how God has used those places and turned to good! Might be a good book for you. It is set up in short daily devotions to help you connect, reflect, and put into action!
Amen❤️
“Repentance does not require living in shame. Repentance brings us restoration with the Lord.” Amen, Sarah!
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If y’all have time, HRT’s devo is a good reflection too.
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It is interesting that the Feast of Tabernacles had not been celebrated since the time of Joshua. Even when Israel was being led by “good” kings, God’s Word was not being fully followed. Oddly, even His commands to celebrate!
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INDIANA ELAINE – I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s heartbreaking that you cannot attend the memorial today. Praying the Lord’s peace and comfort will be tangible for you.
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TRACI GENDRON – praying your vertigo goes away quickly.
Thanks for the HRT tip, Kelly! Love this:
“So we joyfully obey, not to earn His love, but because of His love shown to us in Jesus.
Obedience isn’t burdensome. It allows us to experience life. Let’s continue to view Scripture through that lens as we read. Written by Cameron Magby
Amen❤️
I think it is so easy for us to take the access to the word that we have for granted. I can get out of bed and make coffee and read the bible in an app on my phone, read it on my computer, on my SRT book that I purchase or in one of at least 2 physical Bibles that I own. So it took me aback this morning to realize that the exiles would only have had access to the word if they were physically in the temple. I really take it for granted.
So true
This is so true! And I was also wondering if the Levites not only had to explain the meaning, but translate from the Hebrew bc some of them may not have spoken Hebrew if they were born in exile.
Tami, one of the things I read did say that the Hebrew language had changed from the ancient Hebrew so translation was necessary. Good catch! ❤
Wow, I assumed it meant explaining the meaning—like we use a commentary. I didn’t think about a language barrier as well!
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I had the same thought. ❤
I think to recognise that we have sinned, to acknowledge we did wrong, to hold our hands up when we fall short, to feel sadness when we know we could have done or given better, that has to be the beginning of repentance.
I did not say that is , but it sure helps the passage of true repentance.
The getting on ones knees and asking forgiveness, repenting for the wrong that holds your heart, is the start of the joy of the LORD in your heart!
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The journey to that part is where the LORD meets us, where He meets in His grace, and where we feel the release of His restoring love over us…
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The joy of the LORD will always be our strength when we wholeheartedly repent of all our wrongs/sins.
BUT GOD..
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AMEN.
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Happy Thursday dear hearts, prayerful your day will be covered in much love and wonderment, excitement and Joy (Golden joy), I know mine will be!!
Much joy and love to all covered in prayers..❤️♥️
Your comment brought me such clarity about having joy in the Lord after we repent. It’s so true! Like having a weight lifted off of us that we didn’T know we were carrying.
Golden JOY, sistet! ❤❤❤
I love this, Tina, “The joy of the Lord will always be our strength when we wholeheartedly repent of all our wrongs/sins.” Repentance, humility, joy!
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It was truly golden Tina! ❤️❤️
Thank you, Jesus, for your mercy, forgiveness, and your love. Amen
The 1st thing that stands out is standing when God’s word was reading. They probably hadn’t heard it in 70 years. Also the reverence for God’s word . We as a nation need to turn back to God.
Amen
Amen!
Good to “see” you, hope you are well!!
All is well
Amen. ❤
Wow, what a great passage in Nehemiah and for Sarah Wood’s devotional. I think we can wallow in guilt, but to look at it in a different way, to celebrate the new way God has set for us, is very freeing.
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