Before the Water Gate

Then Nehemiah said to them,

“Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions

of them to those for whom nothing is prepared,

for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved,

for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

(From  Nehemiah 8:1-10)

The Boston Celtics are going through a dry spell of missed shots, turnovers, missed 3 pointers, and 2 pointers,

When Derrick White was asked about the dry spell, he stated it would bring the team together.

White believed the annual seasonal ups-and-downs compel the team to figure out how to get through them.

In a way, that’s a metaphor for life

It’s like going through a dry spell of faith, reading the law of the Lord and not feeling a revived soul.

The book of Nehemiah relates the Judean story with King Artaxerxes support for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

Nehemiah and Ezra confront opposition and challenges in their rebuilding efforts of safeguarding Jerusalem’s boundaries.

Attempting to unify opposing ideas, Nehemiah gathers the people before the Water Gate court to hear the Torah read.

Reviving worthy memories of the past generates excitement for those hearing the Torah again those hearing for the first time.

For Six hours, people listen attentively to Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

People weep hearing their sins spoken, knowing their guilt, and fearing God’s justice.

Nehemiah declared, “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

God is rejoicing over the people attempting to draw near.

As surely as the Torah reveals our sins, it also reveals the source of our hope: the God who keeps promises.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

Through our dry spells of faith, of unanswered prayer, of a withering soul, it is the joy of the Lord, that is perfect, reviving the soul.