Nehemiah 8:10b for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
尼希米記 8:10b 你們不要憂愁,因靠耶和華而得的喜樂是你們的力量。」 11 於是利未人叫眾百姓安靜,說:「安靜,因今日是聖日,不要憂愁。」 12 眾百姓去吃喝,也分給別人,都大大喜樂,因為他們明白所教導他們的話。
What bring us joy? A job promotion, an acceptance to your dream school… In today’s reading we learn that the Israel enjoyed great joy “because they had understood the words that were declared to them.” This type of joy did not come easily and was not taken lightly as they stood in front of the water gate from “early morning until midday”, listening attentively to the Book of the Law (not reading comics!) and worshiping God by raising their hands. They bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. In addition, many teachers “helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.”( 8:8-9) Joy that requires no effort is not real joy. Since March 18, I have had the privilege of reading the Bible with many young people online and writing journal entries together, Monday to Friday every morning. There is joy in reading the word of God together (“and all the people gathered as one man” (8.1)) and joy in understanding the Word – this is the true source of joy! The true joy will bring strength to our lives. May God help us to make an effort together to find joy from His Word everyday.
是什麼帶給我們喜樂?升職,進入夢想中的學校…在今天的經文中,我們了解到以色列人大大喜樂,“因為他們明白所教導他們的話”。這種喜樂並非輕易得來的, 他們從“清晨到中午”站在水門前,他們認真聽著《律法書》(不是漫畫!),並舉手低頭,俯伏在地,敬拜耶和華來。此外,許多老師“使百姓明白律法;百姓都站在自己的地方。 8 他們清清楚楚地念 神的律法書,講明意思,使百姓明白所念的。 “(8:8-9)不需要努力的喜喜不是真正的喜喜。自3月18日以來,我一直有幸與許多青少年在周一至週五每天早晨一起在線上讀聖經並撰寫靈修日記。一起研讀上帝的話(“眾百姓如同一人聚集”(8.1))是喜樂的,而明白上帝的話也是喜樂的-這才是真正的喜樂之源!真正的喜樂將為我們的生活帶來力量。願上帝每天幫助我們共同努力,從上帝的話中找到喜樂。