(Nehemiah 8:10 N.I.V.) 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."

The Apostle Paul said that “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22 & 23, N.I.V.)

“…against such there is no law.” That’s how the 23^rd verse ends. ‘Against such there is no law…’ It’s interesting that the Levites had just finished instructing the people in the Law of Moses, the people began to weep, and Nehemiah said, ‘enjoy life…make sure that those who have nothing are able to enjoy life too. This is a sacred day, don’t be sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’

The reading of the Law had evidently touched the people’s hearts with conviction. They saw how far short of being pleasing to God that they were.

We tend to think in terms of a great and distinct separation between Law and Grace. However, it appears that Nehemiah had an understanding of the Grace of God as he encouraged the people with those words… "this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

He identified the holiness of the day directly with the pleasure of God being in the joy of the people. That’s a manifestation of Grace.

It is, as Paul said, a true indication of the presence of the Lord, the ‘fruit of the Spirit,’ that God’s people have joy! Read it again, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22 & 23, N.I.V.)

The Law points out how far we fall short of the Glory of God. Take hope, His 'Grace' is to take our recognition of our frailties, and our recognition of His acceptance of us, and give us strength for our days through joy.

Does He literally give us ‘joy for ashes?’ Or, is it…when we recognize our frailties and lift our hearts joyfully in hope of our salvation, that He gives us strength?

I think the literal essence of Nehemiah’s instruction is to ‘take joy’ and experience the strength to be found in the Grace, the holiness, the sacredness of God.

The psalmist said, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

“This day is a sacred day…” Take joy and God will give you strength.

“Give us this day our daily bread…” Take joy and God will give you strength.

“Today is the day of salvation…” Take joy and God will give you strength.

“Consider the lilies…” Take joy and God will give you strength.