Nehemiah 8:9–12

The people rejoice

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Ecclesiastes tells us there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (3:4). There are appropriate times to mourn over our sins. In our worship calendar, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are such days. On the other hand, there are times when such sorrow and gloom are inappropriate. Christmas and Easter are such days. On these festivals a joyful celebration of God’s goodness is appropriate. During Old Testament times, Israel had an appropriate day for mourning and repentance—the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the seventh month. The Feast of Trumpets, however, was to be a day of joy.

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 shortcomings, Nehemiah reminded them that this was a day to rejoice. He urged the people to express their joy in an appropriate way with special holiday meals and by sharing their abundance with the less fortunate.

Some Christians have frowned on holidays like Christmas and Easter and the accompanying festivities. But festive meals and celebrations are appropriate—as long as these festivities direct our attention to the Lord, rather than away from him. 

The Holy Scriptures often describe eternal life as a feast. Our feasts on earth should remind us of that infinitely more blessed feast to come. God has showered rich material blessings on us. It’s appropriate to use them with joy and thanksgiving. “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This . . . is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ecclesiastes 2:24,25). Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom, has come. Let us celebrate his coming with rejoicing! As Christ himself asks, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them?” (Matthew 9:15).