Out of the Fog
Last week I drove up to Minnesota for a conference. As I was driving through Iowa there was a dense fog surrounding everything. Iowa has a lot of farmland and the area I was driving through was fields for miles, but because of the fog, I could only see small glimpses of what was around me. After a couple of hours, the sun broke through and the fog melted away revealing the beauty that surrounded me. The trees were glorious shades of red, yellow, and orange, the fields were glistening with dew, and the sun reflected off of the water causing it to shimmer wildly. At that moment it was like the goodness of God was palpable.
Looking back on it now, it makes me think of our friends in Nehemiah, whom I mentioned last week. About a century after the Israelites were allowed to leave their Babylonian captivity, not all things had been restored in Jerusalem. Nehemiah, who was serving as cupbearer to the king of Persia, received news about the desolate state of the walls around Jerusalem. The walls no longer protected the city, but rather were in ruins and his fellow kinsmen were in distress.
Nehemiah wept and mourned for days when he learned of this news. He fasted and prayed, and found himself talking to the king about what was happening in Jerusalem. The king could see this was important to Nehemiah and was generous to him beyond measure. He granted Nehemiah every request and sent him on his way to rebuild the walls.
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, after a lengthy journey, and assessed the situation. Repairs to the wall were started. We see name after name listed in this book to help us understand the sacrifice and investment of the community to do these repairs. While the wall was being rebuilt they faced much opposition, but eventually, the wall was completed and we find ourselves in the seventh month on the Jewish calendar. There is so much that transpires in the book of Nehemiah, but here we will mostly focus on chapter 8.
It is the first day of the seventh month and the community is gathered together. Ezra, who is the priest, has been asked to read Moses’s instructions to the assembly.
Nehemiah 8:5-6
Ezra opened the document before the eyes of the entire people, because he was above the entire people, and as he opened it, the entire people stood. Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and the entire people answered, ‘Yes, yes’, with a raising of their hands, then bent their heads and bowed low to Yahweh, faces on the ground.
From dawn until midday Ezra read to them. The Levites were there too, to help explain any of the confusing parts. It has been around 200 years since the beginning of the Babylonian exile, and not only were there potential language barriers, but it seems those gathered had not heard these words in a long time, if ever.
We see in Nehemiah 8:9 that those gathered were weeping as they heard the words Ezra read to them. It seems evident that they had not been observing the laws God had given to them for some time, and they are grieved by this information.
I think the date they are gathered is significant. In Leviticus 23:24 we read - Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing trumpets, a holy convocation.’
We see that Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites are reminding the people that this day is a sacred day and that rather than mourning, a celebration is in order. They tell them in verse 10 ‘Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks and send off portions to anyone who has nothing prepared, because today is sacred for our Lord. Don’t be in pain, because joy in Yahweh is your protection.’
The people have just spent hours listening to God’s words read to them. They’ve realized they haven’t been adhering to the laws given to them and are lamenting their failings. And yet those leading them don’t say, well done, we are so glad you are grieving. What they actually say is go have a party and celebrate this holy day remembering that God is always faithful, and even though you haven’t followed, or maybe didn’t even know, all of his laws for you, he loves you dearly and wants to meet you today in joy and celebration. Blow the trumpet, dance, sing, eat, and celebrate the goodness of God. Today is a new day for your community, and the joy you have in Yahweh is your protection or refuge. The fog they had been living in lifted for them that day.
When we consider the words - Don’t be in pain, because joy in Yahweh is your protection - I think it changes our ability to see the joy in all things. Despite what is happening in our current story we can know that celebration is possible, and I would even say necessary. When our joy is rooted in our good Father we can trust him to take care of us. We can know he is faithful and good even when we are not. If you are in a fog, one day it will lift, and all of the things that have been out of view will suddenly be clear to you. Until then hold on to what you know to be true - God is trustworthy and you can put your joy in him and know that he will not let you down.
~ Melissa