“The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). This meaningful and beautiful text is applicable to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the great reasons in knowing Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives is experiencing joy in living the Christian life from day to day; no matter what the circumstance may be.
Here is the full text: Nehemiah told the people: “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” (Nehemiah 8:10).
“This day,” in the text, refers to the great revival under Ezra when the people “lifting up their hands bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD” (v. 6). Also noted in the text, the people were to send portions to anyone who has nothing ready. It seems likely that reaching out to others was a part of the purpose for the feast, thus spreading the peoples’ joy.
It’s interesting to note the effect the joy of the Lord had on the people. The Scripture says, “And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing” (Nehemiah 8:12). “To make great rejoicing will also take place when we allow the joy of the LORD to be our strength.
Dr Charles Stanley made the following comment: “How is God’s joy our strength? Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “Jesus . . . for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” The Lord’s delight is in forgiving us and saving us. His happiness is in showing love to all who believe in Him. Therefore, whenever we feel weak and helpless, we need to remember that He loves to step in and deliver us. Then His joy really will be our strength” (The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible NKJV pg. 578).
One of the virtues of the fruit of the Spirit is joy and rightly so. The Bible says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22). Note fruit is singular and not plural.
As Christians, we should always allow real joy to manifest itself in our lives so that our lives are pleasing to God. And this must also be evident to those around us. At times, Christians can become “targets” for critics because of how they see us. This could be our way of speaking or behaving. Even our perfect Lord Jesus had his critics during His earthly life and ministry.
The point is our faith in Christ causes us to talk and act differently from others. This is evident in His sermon on the Mount when the Lord Jesus said Christians “are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to you Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
When the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead and direct our lives, we will experience real joy in having communion with our blessed Lord and Savior on a daily basis. Remember, our “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20).
Joy is an important word in the Scriptures, and used in many significant ways that we should take note of. It should also be an important word in a believer’s personal vocabulary. Here are few instances where joy is used:
When King David committed sin with Bathsheba, in his confession he asked the Lord, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12). It is very obvious David realized the joy of salvation had departed from him because he sinned against God.
First Peter 1:8 says this about Christ, “Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”
At the announcement of Jesus’ birth, the angel said: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
In the parable of “the lost coin,” the Lord said, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).
The prophet Isaiah said, “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).
John MacArthur said: “Salvation and joy belong together. Being made right with God is cause for joy: Joy on the part of God, joy on the part of Christ, joy on the part of the angels, joy on the part of the church, and joy on the part of the one who is redeemed.
“Now the sum of all of that is simply to remind us that joy is a result of God’s gift of salvation. And all of us who are saved should experience that joy. That’s why Paul exhorted the Christians in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 with these familiar words, “Rejoice always.” To the Philippians he said, “Rejoice always and again I say rejoice.” Why? Because joy and rejoicing is an element within the saving work of God.” (Excerpted from: The Joy of Salvation, Part 1, Grace to You by John MacArthur).