Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
- Nehemiah 8:9

The reading of the Law stirred the hearts of the people. They started weeping as they listened. The story they heard in the reading of the Book of the Law of Moses would have highlighted the Lord’s holiness, generosity and justice … as well as the failure of the people to live as God’s holy people.

Hearing the Law read aloud would have reminded the people of how messed up things had gotten between them and God. The physical exile that happened generations earlier merely made visible the disconnect in the relationship. Could that gap ever be closed?

This dilemma spills beyond our relationship with God. As we disconnect from the Lord, we also begin to disconnect from other people who God’s called us to love. The gaps between us grow and grow. Silence replaces conversation. A deep freeze settles in, broken only by eruptions of anger, argument, and violence. We long for change.

Given the gaps, the mourning of the people is appropriate. When we’re willing to pause long enough to engage honestly with the Lord and with our own histories, the real gaps can become clearer. Sometimes that’s uncomfortable. But coming to terms with larger realities is an important step in our spiritual journeys.

The hope for the people in Jerusalem is the same hope that we have today: the hope that God will close the gap. We have broken God’s law, but God can set things right. He can forgive. He can heal. He can rebuild.

Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites called the people to turn from mourning and enter into a celebration. They celebrated because the day of their gathering was one that was “holy to the Lord.” The reality of the Lord’s holiness – not their sinfulness – determined the tone of the day. The goodness of the Lord gave them a reason to celebrate.

What would it look like for the Lord to turn your mourning into celebration? Would you pause long enough today to engage with God and your own story and ask him to show you any gaps that might be good for you to come to terms with?”