Scripture
Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
Observation
The people are settled and the wall is rebuilt. Ezra and Nehemiah summon all the people to hear the Law of the Lord being read.
The people gather and worship the Lord and then Law is read with instructions being given along the way.
People repent and weep as they realise their sin. This is clearly a Spirit-led repentance.
Then something remarkable happens. Nehemiah, Ezra and other leaders tell the people not to mourn but to go home and feast for it is a sacred day. So the people leave their repenting and go and feast.
Application
weeping over sin is a good thing, but it can become a religious show. Most pastors would be delighted with such an outbreak of mass repentance in a worship service.
We have to move beyond repentance. When we repent God forgives us. The sin is gone, the sentence reversed, punishment rescinded and it's time to celebrate.
If repentance does not leas us to a time of joy there is a problem. If we get stuck in constantly lamenting our sins past and present then we have lost the plot. Repentance is a journey not the destination. We are to turn our eyes on Jesus not on our own sins or remorse.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for this account of national repentance and joy. Help me to look to you always and to remember that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Amen.
What is done is done and can't be changed, but we should focus on using our past experiences in the present to make our future better.
ReplyDeleteVery profound... and true.
ReplyDelete