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Day 129, or May the 9th.

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Don't be sad, rejoice and be glad.

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Our thoughts today are rooted in Nehemiah chapter 8 verse 9.

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Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the law, and the Levites who

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were instructing the people, said to them all, This day is holy to the Lord your God,

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do not mourn or weep, for all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words

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of the law.

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And now the big picture surrounding this verse.

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Following the completion of the wall around Jerusalem, we learn that the book of the law

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was once again read to the people.

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The Holy Spirit applied what the people were hearing to their hearts, and there was a wave

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of repentance from all who heard.

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The Bible tells us that there was a broad cross-section of society listening to Ezra,

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yet as He would have addressed them in the language of the priests, i.e. Hebrew, very

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few of the people would have understood it.

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The translation task fell to the Levites who instructed the people in the law, while everyone

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remained in their places.

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They read from the book of the law of God, and clearly explained the meaning of what

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was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

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The cacophony must have been something to behold, and noisier than any of us have ever

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experienced in our local churches.

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And now today's action step.

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There is something that is very comforting to be told that you have done wrong, but there

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is an effective remedy that is freely available, a mix of bad and good news.

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This was the experience that the Jews had when they were addressed shortly after the

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temple was rebuilt.

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They were convicted by the truth, and then told, Go and celebrate, don't be dejected

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and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

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We are not to be downhearted when we are convicted of sin.

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The devil wants us to feel down, but why should we, when a burden is about to be lifted from

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our shoulders?

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Instead, we should repent and rejoice.

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It's another positive step in our Christian walk.