Nehemiah 8:8-12
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is holy 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. --
They were weeping because they finally understood the things they were supposed to be doing, but hadn't been all the time they had been in exile, and even before.
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve." --
God was pleased that the people now knew what to do, how to live. So He would want His people to rejoice with Him. Later there would be a time to grieve and repent.
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. --
This sounds to me like a great Christmas feast and celebration, with gift giving and eating sweets.
It's a wonderfully good thing to be able to understand how it all fits together into a grand, glorious scheme. That God would reveal Himself to us, and teach us how to cooperate with how He made this world, is a wondrous thing to me. God is so good, like a loving parent who only wants good for the children, but is brokenhearted to see how they are messing it all up, and suffering the consequences. Now that the children are finally learning how to do it right, He only hopes that they will remember and follow these rules when they're under pressure to "go easy."
It always seems easier to decide for ourselves what we want to do, even when we know the consequences. But to still follow the right way to live, even when it's hard, we know will result in more prosperity, better relationships, and more good in every way. And God will strengthen us to choose that good way.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
