Pastor Tom Johnson, January 27, 2013
It had been generations since the Bible had been taught. So much time had passed since the Bible stories were told that the Hebrew language became too archaic to understand. And so, Ezra translated what he read from Hebrew into Aramaic. Reading the Scripture in its original Hebrew for them would be like our reading medieval English which is often difficult to understand. It is interesting that even thousands of years ago, the important thing was not the exact wording of the Bible but its “sense.” This is what Ezra conveyed—the Bible’s sense—it’s meaning.
The Law is what we call “the Old Testament”—but most especially the first five books of the Bible—called the Pentateuch or Torah. The people would have heard the account of Creation, Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, Noah’s ark, the Tower of Babel, the calling of Abraham, the story of Joseph being sold into slavery to deliver the whole world from starvation. They would have heard the account of how the Hebrews became slaves—and of Moses who went to Egypt to tell Pharoah, “Let my people go.” Ezra would explain the passover meal, the blood on the doorposts to avert the Angel of Death, and how God parted the Red Sea so they could walk to freedom on dry ground.
Maybe it’s when they hear how the Hebrews grumbled, complained, and rebeled against God—and how God, time and time again has to discipline them back—that the people become sad, grieved, and begin to weep and cry. Perhaps they identified with how easily we all forget and stray away from God like lost sheep. We have some things in common with the slaves in Egypt who lost hope and memory of their God and the generation who wandered for 40 years in the desert because of their lack of trust in the One who led them safely toward the Promised Land. They would have heard the Ten Commandments and all the moral, ceremonial, and civil laws they had ignored and violated. The Law is uncompromising, precise, and no one can walk away feeling like they are righteous. And really, that is the point of such stories—that as we hear about hard hearts, stiff necks, and grumbling mouths—that we realize that we too have sinned by what we have done and by what we have left undone, in our thoughts, words, and deeds.
It is unsettling to realize our sinfulness. We clearly see our own broken condition when it is so vividly illustrated in the stories of the Bible. And so the Israelites bowed their heads to the ground, tears welled up in their eyes, and they cried out in despair and hopelessness. No one can escape the Law’s accusing tone. None is righteous in its sight. The Law requires that we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength...and that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We discover the truth that we don’t love God or each other enough. And for that we need forgiveness.
Ezra, being the great preacher and pastor that he is, realizes they need some Gospel to go along with the Law. Ezra understands that the Law breaks us down but the Gospel builds us up—the Law is a schoolmaster who bring us into a full understanding of the good news. “This day is holy to the Lord your God,” Ezra proclaims. “Do not mourn or weep. Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to the hungry.” This is no mere suggestion to sad people that they go get a drink. He invites them to participate in the story they just heard—to eat meat and drink a meal in anticipation of being delivered from slavery, as in the Passover story—to break bread and drink wine like Abraham and Sarah did with the Angel of the Lord when he promised them a son. “Eat a meal, raise a glass,” Ezra says, “and feed the hungry.” Sounds a lot like what we as a congregation do on Sunday—have a meal, the Lord’s Supper—and Saturday—providing a hot meal, sending portions to those for whom nothing is prepared.”
“For the joy of the Lord is your strength,” Ezra proclaims.
Joy—that spiritual reality—more than contentment—deeper than happiness. Joy transcends life’s circumstances. Joy is walking by faith, not by sight. Joy is the result of God making us his people—it is the response of those who put their trust in the Lord. Joy comes from the finished work of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Joy is the empty tomb and our triumph over death. Joy is gratitude for what God has done. Joy is optimism of what he will do. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Joy puts peace into our anxious hearts. Joy helps us rest at night knowing that our future is secure in his hands. Joy gets us out of bed in the morning because “this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Joy has us looking back in thanksgiving for God’s help along the journey. Joy has us looking forward, knowing that the God who is with us now, will be with us tomorrow, and will bring us safely to our promised land. “Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice!” Scripture says. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning!” Stop beating yourself up for neglecting God and his Word. Lament no longer for your sinful attitude and behavior. “Take eat...drink of it, all of you...” Have a joyful meal. God gives to the humble and the hungry. Your sins are forgiven. An eternally bright future is before you. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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