“你们去吃肥美的，喝甘甜的，有不能预备的就分给他…你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。” - 尼 8:10
我们应该为自己的罪懊悔多久呢？如果让懊悔太快过去，是否就表明我们并没有真正地为罪感到愧疚？我们是否因此而亏欠神或亏欠了我们所得罪的一些人？反之，如果我们陷在愧疚里太久，这是否意味着我们对神赦罪的大能没有足够的信心？
内疚是很难克服的。这种感觉有可能持续很长时间。或许这也是我们应当面对的。所有的罪其实都冒犯了神，即便其中有些罪也冒犯了人，但是，神的反应和人的反应完全不同。神本可以要求我们沉浸在自己的悲伤中。但这并不是祂的本性。神爱我们，当我们想与祂重修美好关系时，祂会喜乐满怀。事实上，我们若为自己的罪忏悔，神就大有喜乐，祂的喜乐会带给我们足够的力量来饶恕自己。
尼希米敦促人们来体验这种喜悦。他举办宴会，好使人们享受美食，并与人分享。这并不只是面子工程；而是要藉此使人们意识到，神透过律法要与我们建立一种美好关系。对神而言，如果我们不再远离祂，而是开始寻求祂，那会成为祂极大的喜乐。
祷告
亲爱的神，请将你的喜乐——与你重建关系的喜乐——多多地赐给我们。 阿们。
尼希米记 8:8-18
8他们清清楚楚地念神的律法书，讲明意思，使百姓明白所念的。
9省长尼希米和做祭司的文士以斯拉，并教训百姓的利未人对众民说：“今日是耶和华你们神的圣日，不要悲哀哭泣。”这是因为众民听见律法书上的话都哭了。
10又对他们说：“你们去吃肥美的，喝甘甜的，有不能预备的就分给他，因为今日是我们主的圣日。你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。”
11于是利未人使众民静默，说：“今日是圣日，不要作声，也不要忧愁。”
12众民都去吃喝，也分给人，大大快乐，因为他们明白所教训他们的话。
13次日，众民的族长、祭司和利未人都聚集到文士以斯拉那里，要留心听律法上的话。
14他们见律法上写着，耶和华藉摩西吩咐以色列人要在七月节住棚，
15并要在各城和耶路撒冷宣传报告说：“你们当上山，将橄榄树、野橄榄树、番石榴树、棕树和各样茂密树的枝子取来，照着所写的搭棚。”
16于是百姓出去，取了树枝来，各人在自己的房顶上，或院内，或神殿的院内，或水门的宽阔处，或以法莲门的宽阔处搭棚。
17从掳到之地归回的全会众就搭棚，住在棚里。从嫩的儿子约书亚的时候直到这日，以色列人没有这样行。于是众人大大喜乐。
18从头一天直到末一天，以斯拉每日念神的律法书。众人守节七日，第八日照例有严肃会。
Joy
"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. . . . Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10
How long should we feel sorry for our sins? If we move on too fast, does that show we aren’t really sorry? Are we doing some injustice to God or to others we have sinned against? Or, if we hold on to being sorry too long, does that mean we do not trust enough in God’s power to forgive?
Guilt can be hard to get over. The feelings can last a long time. And perhaps that’s what we deserve. But since all sins are against God, even when a sin is also against others, God’s situation is totally opposite to ours. He could demand that we wallow in our sorrow. But that’s not who God is. God loves us and is overjoyed when we want to be in a good relationship with him again. In fact, God has so much joy when we repent of our sin that his joy provides the strength we need to forgive ourselves.
Nehemiah urged the people to experience that joy. He called for a feast so that the people could enjoy fine foods and drinks and share with others. This wasn’t about just going through motions; it was about recognizing that God’s law calls for a relationship with us. And as far as God is concerned, if we are ready to stop moving away from him and start moving toward him, that brings him the most joy.
Prayer
Dear God, drive your joy—the joy of a relationship with you—deep into us. Amen.
