Nehemiah 8:10 English Standard Version (ESV) Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This is the first time that my search engine uses the actual phrase “the joy of the Lord”. It is not until now that we find the joy of the Lord specifically. Until now our search has all been about our emotional responses alone or separated from the Lord. Now we find His Joy providing strength.

We know from our readings that Nehemiah has been given permission to return to Jerusalem and his first task was to rebuild the wall. This is where dedicated men were stood in the gaps in the wall to protect them from those who opposed them in their calling.

I recall attending the D.C. even “Standing in the Gap”. If ever any man should feel strengthened it is when a million men answered the call and with one mind and purpose prayed for our nation. We did not call for a fast yet God put it on the hearts of all of us to fast. When food was catered in, we told them to give it to the needy and the homeless in D.C., in unity of mind and purpose.

What a joy it was for all of us to feel sustained during the event. The wind encircled us and we were refreshed. God in our midst was all we needed as strangers took each other aside and began to pray without ceasing.

We could see that it pleased the Lord that so many men and boys answered the call.

Everyone in the area of Jerusalem got to see the restoration of the city.

We who attended “Standing in the Gap” saw it for a day.

To be frankly honest with you. We could use a day like that day every day.

While Joy in Sustenance is wonderful, I believe the Joy of the Lord is more. 

Deuteronomy 16:15 English Standard Version (ESV) For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.

Deuteronomy 28:46-48 English Standard Version

46 They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.

These are the first two search results when we use a computer to search the words joy and Lord together.

This joy is one of attitude. God blesses us in the work of our hands.

Then in service to Him if our attitude is not one of gratitude, we find it displeases the Lord our God.

Perhaps this simple search of Joy is not the Joy of the Lord but it does tell us God blesses us so that we will have plenty to be grateful for. 

Any simple expression of that gratitude honors God. We give thanks at every meal. Or do we?

We prepare a big meal and in togetherness praise God for the blessings. If we get up from the football game on tv to get a snack, do we remember to count our blessings? Probably not. But then again we are not serving the Lord watching tv. Does that excuse us from blessing the snack?

Thanks be unto the Lord our God that we live in the age of grace and not under the Law of the Old Covenant.

I cannot help but wonder in service to our Lord if we do so with an attitude of gratefulness so that we might find joy in the work?

While this is all about our emotional attitude I do not find any satisfaction in this search that says I have found the Joy of the Lord.

Even though I have not found what I seek, I have to admit that attitude in service is important.

The search continues. What does the Lord have to say next?