Years ago, I was in the frozen food section of the grocery store in Littleton and was caught off guard by an elderly woman who asked me to read the labels on the different types of frozen potatoes. I would tell her, “This one has garlic and butter, and this one is just plain potatoes.” She had fine eyesight. She was illiterate. I was shocked that someone could not read. She could have had dyslexia and not received therapy or had some other reason she could not read. I was her guide that day in the store.

In our passage people were strategically placed in the congregation to give understanding to what was read from the law. That is the task of the teacher and preacher of the scriptures. They are to give understanding so that the people comprehend the words of God. In our passage the result was profound. The people responded with weeping. Nehemiah not only had to give interpretation to the scriptures, but also had to guide them in the right response to what they were hearing. He corrected their response. He directed them to rejoice rather than weep. This is a day of rejoicing not weeping according to Nehemiah.

In our day and age we need guides for both our understanding of scriptures and emotional response to the word of God. For those that are faithfully following Jesus in the power of the Spirit their strength comes from the “Joy of the Lord.” For those that have no relationship with God, they need to respond with a contrite spirit and repent. Larger churches can easily lump everyone together resulting in a misalignment of responses to a passage of scripture. Do you need better understanding of the Bible? Go to as many Bible studies and preaching services as you can. If you delight in God and His word, then go from strength to strength by rejoicing in the Lord.