The great joy that results from the necessary public reading of the scripture [Nehemiah 8.3; I Timothy 4.13] is the joy of the people of God clearly understanding the publicly read Word of God. In Nehemiah 8, God's people heard God's priests read and explain God's Word clearly [the doctrine of perspicuity], and the result was "great rejoicing" [v. 12].
Ezra stood on a wooden platform as his priestly brothers helped the people understand the Law as it was being read. Wouldn't that be cool if, during the public reading of the scripture, our deacons at Grace moved around the building teaching the Bible to us while Colin T., Luke L., Dave S., or David B. stood on a wooden platform reading the Bible to us. That would be wild!
I think we often concentrate on Nehemiah 8.10 which reads, "for the joy of the LORD is your strength," and fail to grasp that the objective foundation for their joy was their clear understanding of the Word of God publicly read. Verse 12 says that the people of God made "great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them." What began with weeping [v. 9] ended in joy [v. 12].
The fullest and final joy, however, is not to be found in Nehemiah. The movie isn't over. There's still more popcorn to eat. The story isn't fully told. The child should remain awake a few moments longer to hear the story's end.
The joy of Nehemiah 8.12 is an incomplete joy, awaitng its future fullest and final expression found in the person and work of Christ. As the Reformation Study Bible notes, "Israel's failure to merit life in the land testifies to the universal need for a Substitute thorough whom the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met on behalf of those who could not meet these terms on their own."
Gospel joy is Nehemiah's joy fully realized. "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised--who indeed is interceding for us" [Romans 8.34].
So Grace Baptist Church, rejoice that we devote ourselves to the public reading of Scripture [I Timothy 4. 13]. Rejoice that every week our brothers in Christ carefully give us a sense of and clearly read God's Word at our Lord's Day service [Nehemiah 8.8]. And rejoice that the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" [John 1.14].
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While ultimately great joy is afforded the hearer of the scripture, it becomes that joy only after an initial utter despair and then an appropriate response to the gospel. Deuteronomy 31:11-13 told of the desired effect of public reading of the law, namely the imparting upon the hearer the fear of the Lord. 2 Kings 22:11 tells of King Josiah's distress after having "heard the words of the Book of the Law." Acts 2:37 can arguably be preceded with the public reading or expounding of scripture which resulted to the hearers being "cut to the heart," and wondering what they could then do. Let us also remember that “all the people wept as the heard the word of the Law,” Nehemiah 8:9, before they rejoiced greatly.
Imagine being convicted for a crime you didn’t even know you committed. You figured all your life to be basically an okay kind of guy or gal. Then one day the police knock on your door, question you, ask for an alibi, and the next thing you know you’re charged, finger printed, and locked up. Bail is denied. You anguish as time passes and you have no means of clearing yourself. It’s up to the court and the legal system to set you free. After all, you a good person and hadn’t done anything, so you remain hopeful. The big day comes, and court is in session. The indictment is read. You’re charged with breaking the Law, the Law of God. And even though as you hear the charges and realize you might – just maybe might – have broken one of little, seemingly unimportant laws of the Almighty – and that may even have happened years ago while as a little kid – the final charge in the list is that you, by virtue of having violated just one of the laws, are charged therefore to be guilty of them all! The prosecution brings out the first of only two witnesses: your conscience. Wait a minute! You thought you didn’t have to testify against yourself! But you’re not testifying against yourself. Your conscience is. And the evidence your conscience brings to the Court of the Most High is true and affirmed to your heart by the second witness of the prosecution, namely God in the person of His Spirit. The Prosecution rests its case. The Defense is speechless in the light of guilt beyond any and all doubt. Your heart is racing. Guilty! Sweat is profusely pouring off you. Death! A giant, deep gnawing knot grows deep in your gut. Torment! Faintness flutters about in your head. Weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth! Breath becomes unbelievably hard to draw. Everything is becoming black. Darkness. Forever night! You know you are doomed. What to do? What can you do but throw yourself at the mercy of the Judge. He sees you broken, heart contrite, and offers you a deal. You accept and go free. Jesus Christ, the Son of God pays the fine that justice demanded be paid on your debt your conviction demanded.
For the believer, the joy is great because of the understanding that once I was under God's wrath and just judgment because I was a breaker of God's Law, deservedly condemned to a forever hellish prison sentence. But God revealed to my heart the reality of my helpless state and offered the judicial payment of my fine by the bloody death of His own Son as payment in full if and when I admit my guilt and separateness from Him. Then by faith freely I received the removal of my conviction, and then heard the declaration of my new righteousness in Christ, not by any works or other merit of my own. That is the real joy!
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