Meditating on a verse

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
A familiar verse. We study it. We quote it. In recent years, we sing it.

But to me, it has always sounded glib. Very slick. A pat answer. I've always thought that the deep meaning of the statement eluded me.

Sitting in my pew during worship, I tried to disect it to improve my understanding, to get inside the meaning of those simple words.

The joy . . . the deep-down delight?
the quiet contentment?
the welling-up-gladness ?
the can't-be-contained ear-to-ear grin?

The joy of the Lord . . . the delight the Lord Himself feels?
the delight He provides for me to feel?
the delight He has in me as His child?
the delight/goodness that is the essence of God?

is my strength . . . gets me through the tough spots?
empowers me to a life of service and dedication?
sustains my daily life?
protects me from the evil around me?


The joy of the Lord is my strength.