Nehemiah 8:9-12--This Day Is Holy

Nehemiah 8:9-12
English Standard Version
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This Day Is Holy
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our LORD. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

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We talked about this yesterday, but this is the Feast of Trumpets--a special day set aside by the LORD for His people to remember all the wonderful things that He is and has done for them.  While they typically would read the Law during the Feast of Tabernacles, they had asked for the Law to be read to them during the Feast of Trumpets, and Ezra and the Levites agreed.  However, the people were cut to the heart when they heard how they had sinned and how they were still sinning, and they did not feel like celebrating the Feast.  Nehemiah in his role as governor, Ezra the priest, and the Levites who taught the people had to remind the people of the significance of that day and tell them that they could mourn and weep another day, but this day was a holy day (a day set aside for a special purpose) for feasting and celebrating.

They needed to celebrate the LORD's Feast of Trumpets even if they didn't feel like it in the moment, because the truths of who He is and what He has done supersede their feelings in the moment.  He has already dealt with their guilt and sin through the sacrificial system (if the people have been faithful to make their sin offerings and guilt offerings and burnt offerings).  That was part of this feast too--like every feast.  There was a time of sacrifice to take care of any sin issues that might keep the people from being able to enter the LORD's presence to worship.  Their sins and guilt were dealt with, and they needed to believe that and focus not on themselves and where they were imperfect, but on the LORD and how He was perfect.  They are called to remember the verse that says, "The joy of the LORD is our strength."

The Levites helped to calm the people so that they would stop their crying, grieving and mourning and would start celebrating.  The people went on their way and ate and drank and sang and rejoiced as the LORD had commanded them to do.  Why?  Because they understood the words that had been declared to them!  The Law not only tells us that we are sinners, but it tells us how God is holy is worthy of all glory and honor and praise.  We cannot be so focused on ourselves and our sins that we rob Him of the worship that He is due.  Yes, knowing who He is makes us realize where we have sinned, but it should also give us reason to worship Him, and this was a time of worship.  There would be times for mourning and grieving their sins later, but this Feast must be remembered and celebrated, as it was one of the ways the LORD set in place for them to year-after-year share the gospel with one another.