When Revelation Comes!
Something happens to us when revelation comes into our heart! There’s a reaction, sometimes it’s tears, sometimes laughing, sometime’s great remorse. Whatever one’s personal reaction is, there is always some response to the light of understanding of God’s love coming within your heart and life.
When the children of Israel heard the word of the Lord in Nehemiah 8, this was their reaction:
9 Now, as God’s law was read, the people began to weep. But Nehemiah (the Persians’ appointed governor), Ezra the priest and scribe, and all the ministering Levites said to the people,
Leaders: This day is sacred to the Eternal One, your God. It is not a day for mourning and weeping.
Ezra: 10 Go back to your homes, and prepare a feast. Bring out the best food and drink you have, and welcome all to your table, especially those who have nothing. This day is special. It is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve over your past mistakes. Let the Eternal’s own joy be your protection!
Levites: 11 Be still. This is sacred time and space. Do not mourn.
12 Then the celebration really began. The people had heard God’s words and understood them. When the people went away to eat and to drink in their homes, no one was left out of the feasting, not even the poor. Nehemiah 8:9-12 (The Voice)
The reaction was one of weeping. Yet as the leaders proclaimed, these prodigals coming home to the Lord was not to be a time of weeping and mourning, Instead this was to be a time of rejoicing, a time of preparing a feast and extending the love of God to all around.
The time of mourning is when there is no revelation, “when everyone does what is right in his own eyes”. This is the time to pull out the sackcloth and ashes. But when the prodigal returns, no matter what the sin, no matter how long they were gone, we follow the admonition of the wise father who said:
22 But the father turned to his servants and said, “Quick! Bring the best robe we have and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. 23 Go get the fattest calf and butcher it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate 24 because my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and has been found.” So they had this huge party. Luke 15;22-23 (The Voice)
Maria