Joy of Living bible study on Nehemiah

3. Joy of the Lord is my strength:
Means that having faith in God's
promises gives those who trust him
strength in the face of adversities.
... It is God's promises for the future
which give us inner peace and joy;
because we know he never fails to
keep his promises.

4. Only a people which has experienced
God’s redemption and renewal, a people
to whom is entrusted the law of God (ch.
8), who recognize their dependence
upon him (ch. 9) and who are fully
committed to a life of faithful obedience
(ch. 10) can ensure that the institutional
structures which have been set in place
serve their true purpose.
New Bible Commentary

6. On this topic we have much to say and it
is difficult to explain, since you have
become sluggish in hearing. For though
you should in fact be teachers by this
time, you need someone to teach you the
beginning elements of God’s utterances.
You have gone back to needing milk, not
solid food.
Hebrews 5:11-12

7. The people wept openly when they heard God’s
laws and realized how far they were from
obeying them. But Ezra told them they should be
filled with joy because the day was sacred. It was
time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in
need. Celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra
connected celebration with giving. This gave
those in need an opportunity to celebrate as
well. Often when we celebrate and give to others
(even when we don’t feel like it), we are
strengthened spiritually and filled with joy.
Enter into celebrations that honor God, and
allow him to fill you with his joy.
LIFE Application

8. The law of the LORD is perfect
and preserves one’s life.
The rules set down by the LORD are reliable
and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.(7)
The LORD’s precepts are fair
and make one joyful.
The LORD’s commands are pure
and give insight for life. (8)
The commands to fear the LORD are right
and endure forever.
The judgments given by the LORD are
trustworthy and absolutely just. (9)

9. They are of greater value than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a
honeycomb. (10)
Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there;
those who obey them receive a rich reward. (11)
Psalm 19:7-11

12. But whoever catches a glimpse of
the revealed counsel of God—the
free life!—even out of the corner of
his eye, and sticks with it, is no
distracted scatterbrain but a man
or woman of action. That person
will find delight and affirmation in
the action.
The Message