Exhortation Station

Shalom everyone! I am writing this post on Yom Teruah, i.e. the Day of Trumpets/Shouting. A few years ago, I wrote a post called Wake Up Call in which I covered a few highlights of this appointed time. Today, I wanted to throw in an additional nugget to chew on from Nehemiah chapter 8.

Some background: If you recall, the events recorded in Ezra took place on the tail end of Judah’s exile to Babylon. In Ezra 1:1, Cyrus king of Persia (who had conquered Babylon) was moved my Yahweh to allow many Israelites to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the temple. Roughly 70 years after the temple rebuild was completed in ~516 BC, Nehemiah led Israel in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem (~445 BC). The wall was completed on the 25th of Elul, the 6th month (Nehemiah 6:15).

Nehemiah 8 opens with, “And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which YHWH had given to Israel. ² Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. ³ He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.”

What’s the first day of the seventh month? Yom Teruah!

In verse 8, the Levites “read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they [the sons of Israel] understood the reading.” Lest the weight of this moment in Israel’s history pass you by, keep in mind that it might have been many, many years since the assembly of Israel at large had heard God’s law read to them.

Now for the real kicker:

Nehemiah 8:9-12 — “Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to YHWH your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰ Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of YHWH is your strength.‘ ¹¹ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.’ ¹² All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them.“

Wow! Israel had sinned, been exiled, and finally returned home. Now they were weeping as they heard God’s law read to them, doubtless because they recognized they and their fathers had sinned against Yahweh. I imagine Yahweh was pleased with the hearts of His people at that moment, for Yahweh does not despise a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). However, it was not a time for weeping but for rejoicing. I picture Yahweh saying compassionately, “I know you have sinned, but I have redeemed you, and you can be glad in Me.” Later, after the Feast of Tabernacles had come to a close, the sons of Israel set aside time to fast in sackcloth as they “confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers” (Nehemiah 9:1,2).

Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” If Nehemiah 8 is any indication, it would appear that Yom Teruah is a time to laugh, dance, and rejoice.

If your heart is filled with gladness today, let your song pour out to Yahweh in shouts of joy. If your heart is heavy with confusion, anxiety, or sorrow, rest your burdens at His feet. If you are broken over your sin, know that Yahweh honors your contrite heart. Through Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, your sins are washed white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), removed as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Whether you feel happy, downcast, or anywhere in between, know that Yahweh has redeemed you and called you by name (Isaiah 43:1). Let the joy of Yahweh be your strength. Shout joyfully to Him today!

One final passage to top it off:

Isaiah 44:21-23 — “Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. ²² ‘I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.’ ²³ Shout for joy, O heavens, for YHWH has done it! Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it; For YHWH has redeemed Jacob and in Israel He shows forth His glory.”

(Bible passages NASB 1995; Hebrew transl. inserted by me.)