Pondering on Nehemiah 8

Within this weeks Bible reading schedule was Nehemiah 8 and it just seemed to make me want to ponder on it a little more.

My Pondering...

First, I see in verse 3 that the people were attentive to the reading that Ezra was doing from the 'book of the law.' I was recently reading another blogger that had done a survey and found that most ladies (generalizing because that is the main audience of the blog) had issues with staying focused when studying the Bible. However, here in Nehemiah, the people were able to stay focused on the reading for the whole morning! Amazing that we have issues after a 15-30 minute time frame -- myself included!

Moving down to verses 8-10, we find the men reading along with Ezra were also teaching the people. They told them that the reading was good and it was a holy day. They were to celebrate, rather than weep, because "the joy of the Lord is your strength."

The rest of the chapter goes on to tell how, because of this reading and teaching time, the people were revived, and then reinstated the Feast of Tabernacles, which had been neglected since the time of Joshua.

I wanted to go a little deeper with verse 10 though... so, I got out my Thompson Chain-Reference Bible to find the verses that corresponded with this particular verse -- focusing on joy. (It is #1928 - Joy Promised to believers.)

Interestingly Psalm 16:11, last week's "Pondering on..." verse was the second verse listed under this heading, along with more than a handful of other verses about hard times being real, but joy is greater.

These things have I spoken unto you,

that my joy might remain in you,

and that your joy might be full.

~ John 15:11 ~

One of the verses also referred to John 15:11. In this section of John, Jesus is talking about abiding in Him because He is the way to the Father and our way of living out the Christian life. Without Christ doing the work in us, we cannot bear fruit.

Seeking God and following His commands will bring joy in our lives!

Have a great day!
~ Amanda