“The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength”
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. [Amen.]
“Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
We are gathered all to hear You.
Let our hearts and souls be stirred
Now to seek and love and fear You,
By Your teachings, sweet and holy,
Drawn from earth to love You solely.
(Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.
904:1)
Old Testament Reading....................................... Nehemiah 8:1-3,
5-6, 8-10 (esp. 8-10)
8They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the
sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9And 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. 10Then 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.”
Prologue: Strength seems to be an ever-present popular topic. Physical
strength, emotional strength, mental strength, relational strength, oh, and
spiritual strength, all, most, or at least some of which occupy the time and
attention of everyone. Today’s text, as you can readily recognize, points
our attention to spiritual strength … although it also includes emotional
strength. It does so by reminding you and emphasizing that …
“The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength.”
Now, it’s important to know at least a little bit about the writer
and the significance of what he wrote. Nehemiah is not one of the most
popular Old Testament writers. His recognition pales in comparison with
Moses, Job, King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel.
Nevertheless, “Nehemiah held the important and lucrative post of cupbearer
to King Artaxerxes Longimanus ([which means] Long-handed).” (Christopher F.
Drewes in Introduction to the Books of the Bible. Copyright © 1929
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 65.) He was “a faithful
layman, [who] gives all God’s people a remarkable example of courage and
leadership.” (Edward A. Engelbrecht (General Editor) in The Lutheran Study
Bible. Copyright © 2009 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page
739.)
And, about the significance of what he wrote, “The principal
object of [Nehemiah] is to describe the circumstances [surrounding] the
rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem and its dedication. The Book of
Nehemiah contains the last of the divinely inspired records of Jewish
history we possess. [In fact, it] brings to a close the canonical history
of God’s people in the Old Testament.” (Christopher F. Drewes. Pages 65f.)
In short, Nehemiah’s purpose was “To demonstrate that all things
are possible by God’s gracious and providential care.” (Edward A.
Engelbrecht. Page 738.) As such, “It tells of the rediscovery and reading
of the law of God. The scribes explained to the people what they read. The
reading and explaining of the Word of God brought repentance and a genuine
religious revival. Instruction in the law and the prophets certainly
prepared the people for their Messiah. … Chapters 8 and 9 are the
outstanding chapters in Nehemiah.” (Theodore Huggenvik in Your Key to the
Bible: A Presentation of Your Religious Concern with the Bible. Copyright ©
1944 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, MN. Page 42.)
And that leads us directly into today’s text where we find the
encouragement-by-example to …
I. Attentively Listen to God’s Word. (1-3)
1All the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate.
And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the
Lord had commanded Israel. 2So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the
assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard,
on the first day of the seventh month. 3And he read from it facing the
square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the
presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the
ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ...
What does it mean to attentively listen to God’s Word? First and
foremost, it means to approach the worship service in general and the
reading of God’s Word in particular in a prayer mode. It means instead of
conversing with family members or friends before the worship service, seize
the opportunity to prepare for the worship service by conversing with God
through prayer. If you don’t know what to pray, go to the first page inside
the front cover of the Lutheran Service Book hymnal entitled “Prayers for
Worship” and meditatively pray the prayers that are designated “On entering
a church,” “Before worship,” “Before confession and absolution,” and “For
blessing on the Word.” If you want more prayers to occupy your time of
pre-worship preparation, go to pages 308-309 where you’ll find the section
“At Worship” as well as the pages before and after it that contain the
sections “The Church and Her Mission,” “Baptismal Life,” “Civil Realm,”
“Home and Family,” “In Times of Need,” and “In Times of Joy.” (Lutheran
Service Book. Copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO.)
To attentively listen to God’s Word also means, well, to pay
attention to, think about, focus on, and maybe even follow along in your
bulletin with the printed readings when Pastor Marks or I read them.
Another somewhat novel idea that’s not very popular among us Lutherans is to
bring your own personal Bible with you and follow along in it during the
Bible Readings and sermon. You see, attentive listening to God’s Word means
to avoid distracting yourself or others near you by talking, writing notes
back and forth, writing out your offering check, filling out the attendance
card, messing around with the person sitting next to you, fumbling around in
your purse for who-knows-what, playing with an electronic devise, or
snoring while you’re sleeping.
Why is it so important to attentively listen to God’s Word?
Consider these answers to questions about God’s Word in our current
“Synodical Catechism.” God’s truth about our Savior Jesus Christ “is made
known in the Bible: the Old Testament, which promises the coming Savior, and
the New Testament, which tells of the Savior who has come.” That is, God’s
written Word is all about God’s Living Word, Immanuel. Furthermore, God’s
Word is holy because “God the Holy Spirit gave to His chosen writers[, among
whom Nehemiah is included,] the thoughts that they expressed and the words
that they wrote ([we call that] verbal inspiration). Therefore, the Bible
is God’s own Word and truth, without error ([that’s known as] inerrancy).”
Also, there’s a basic distinction to keep in mind in order to
correctly understand the Bible, namely, “We must sharply distinguish between
the Law and the Gospel … . In the Law God commands good works of thought,
word, and deed and condemns and punishes sin. In the Gospel, the good news
of our salvation in Jesus Christ, God gives forgiveness, faith, and life,
and the power to please Him with good works.” (Luther’s Small Catechism with
Explanation. Copyright © 1986, 1991 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis,
MO. Pages 48-52.) One of the ways you become equipped to do those good
works is when you …
II. Respond to God’s Word by Worshipping Him. (5-6)
5And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above
all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6And Ezra blessed
the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting
up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with
their faces to the ground. ...
What does God tell you in His Holy Word about worship? First of
all a warning in Deuteronomy chapter 11, “Take care lest your heart be
deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the
anger of the Lord will be kindled against you … .” (Deut 11:16-17 ESV) Then
He tells you in 1 Chronicles chapter 16, Psalm 29, and Psalm 96 to “Ascribe
to the Lord the glory due his name …! Worship the Lord in the splendor of
holiness … .” (1 Chron 16:29, Ps 29:2, Ps 96:9 ESV) Today’s Introit
informed you from Psalm 102, “Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: that they may
declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when
peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.” (Ps 102:18,
21-22) Next, in Isaiah chapter 66 He reminds you that worship is a year
round thing—not just Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, “From new moon to
new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship
before me, declares the Lord.” (Isa 66:23 ESV)
When tempted by Satan to worship him, Jesus told him in Saint
Matthew chapter 4 and Saint Luke chapter 4, “You shall worship the Lord your
God and him only shall you serve.” (St Matt 4:10, St Luke 4:8 ESV) That, of
course, reflects The Third Commandment about which Martin Luther wrote, “We
should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word,
but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” (Luther’s Small Catechism
with Explanation. Pages 12 & 68.) And, remember that Jesus Himself told
the prostitute woman at Jacob’s well in Saint John chapter 4, “God is
spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (St
John 4:24 ESV)
To worship God in spirit and truth is to recognize that Jesus is
the truth about God in human flesh. That message of truth is contained in
God’s Holy Word, which, because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, is all
truth. That truth is an objective truth which stands on its own merit and
need only be confessed … not argued or debated. That truth is inherent to
God and, therefore, is trustworthy and sure.
So, consider this about worship. It “can be nothing less than a
recognition … that a dynamic presence is among [you]. … unless there is an
awareness of the presence of Jesus Christ in that worship and a belief that
an encounter with that presence will radically change a person into one of
God’s very own, then worship is not everything it can, should, and must be.”
(Fred L. Precht [Ed.] in Lutheran Worship: History and Practice. Copyright
© 1993 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 27.)
In addition, “Worship is usually defined as honoring or revering a
supernatural being or power. In fact, the word worship and its formation
are peculiar to the English language going back to the root words of worth
and ship, that is, a being or power that has worth and merit and is to be
honored and adored.
“There is much about this meaning of worship that is salutary.
However, the main thrust of the English word worship is from the worshiper
to the worshiped. The direction is from [you] to God. The English word
worship makes the activity [yours]. It is something that [you] do when
[you] have recognized the greatness of God.
“Such a view of worship is [in opposition] to the Evangelical Lutheran
understanding of worship. The Evangelical Lutheran understanding of worship
is just the opposite. It is from God to [you]. It begins with God. It has
its foundation and source with God. It is [God centered] and, more
specifically, it is [Christ centered].
“Worship is God speaking. It is [your] listening. Worship begins with
God’s Word. He is the content. Evangelical Lutheran worship begins with
God giving [you] his Word. It comes to [you] and [you] respond in faith and
devotion. It is God’s action, not [yours]. He is the mover, the doer.
Faith comes as the gift from God, not from [your] own doing or action.
“Such an understanding of worship is quite different from the
dictionary definition of the word. It is for that reason that the
Evangelical Lutheran Church has shown a preference for the word service.
The chief gathering of Christians on a Sunday morning is called the Divine
Service. In the Divine Service, God serves [you]. He gives [you] his Word
and Sacraments. Only after [you] have received the Word and the gifts that
he offers do [you] respond in [your] sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise.
The Divine Service (liturgy) is God giving to [you] and [your] responding to
him. It is [God centered] and [Christ centered], not the man centered
activity that is usually defined as worship.” (Ibid. Pages 44f.)
Because this distinction is so very important, let me say it
another way. Worship encompasses two parts. First, God speaks His message
of mercy and grace to you through His Word and Sacraments. He thereby tells
you that all your sins are forgiven, your formerly sin-sick soul is healed,
and you have the certain assurance of eternal life with Him in heaven.
Further, He tells you that Jesus Himself gained those grand gifts for you by
the holy life He lived, the painful suffering He endured, the crucifixion
death He died, and the triumphant resurrection from the dead He
accomplished. All His substitutionary atonement activity was for the sole
purpose of rescuing you from everlasting death in the fiery pits of hell,
redeeming you from the devil’s bondage here on earth, and reconciling you
with your heavenly Father. God compassionately communicates His
never-ending love for you through the Gospel, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution,
and Holy Communion.
The second part of worship is Spirit-motivated and guided thanks
and praise to God with words of gratitude, acts of service, and deeds of
obedience that He gives you to say and do. Your response begins right here
in the Divine Service with the sacred liturgy, hymns, and prayers. Then it
continues outside of these walls in your daily life wherever you may
be—home, school, work, store, restaurant, soccer field, anywhere and
everywhere you are at anytime and every time of the day or night. It does
so as you conform your thoughts, attitudes, words, and works to God’s holy
will out of faith in Jesus and purposely seek to serve whomever God places
in your path. You see, “That is the right kind of religious service, when
the Word of God is read and explained, and when [you] accept it in all
sincerity, with praise and thanksgiving to God.” (Paul E. Kretzmann in
Popular Commentary of the Bible: The Old Testament Volume I. Copyright ©
1923 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 774.)
By the way, here’s an important point to remember and ponder. The
Divine Service is primarily intended for people who have been instructed in
the Christian faith, embraced it, and continue to confess it, although the
Holy Spirit can use it to work faith in the hearts of unbelievers. To that
end, it strengthens Believers to “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead” (Rom 10:9 ESV)
and in turn “equip[s] the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:12 ESV)
In conclusion, therefore, “On this day God’s people had just had
the opportunity to hear God’s Word and to be reassured of God’s loving
design for them. Although they wept when they recognized their sinful
shortcoming, Nehemiah reminded them that this was a day to rejoice.” (John
F. Brug in People’s Bible Commentary: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Copyright ©
1994 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO. Page 116.) You are
encouraged likewise because, as was true with the Israelites then, so also
today …
“The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength.”
Bask in that divine strength by often praying what we prayed in
today’s Collect, “mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the
hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us.” Then follow the advice of
today’s Gradual, “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord
endures forever. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an
offering, and come into his courts!” (Ps 117:1-2a, 96:8 ESV) When you do
so, …
I. Attentively Listen to God’s Word. (1-3)
As you do so, follow the example given by the first group of
people who heard Jesus in today’s Gospel Reading, “And all spoke well of him
and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.” (St
Luke 4:22a ESV) Realize too that you’re not alone in doing that, but with
many other Believers you …
II. Respond to God’s Word by Worshipping Him. (5-6)
Do so with many others because as today’s Epistle Reading said, “…
in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or
free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not
consist of one member but of many.” (1 Cor 12:13-14 ESV)
God grant it all for the sake of Jesus Christ, His humble Son, our
holy Savior. [Amen.]
In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[Amen.]
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