What trouble lurks behind the active thoughts in your mind? What worry jumps at you in your sleep and yells "Got you!"? For each of us, we could likely quickly call to mind two or three issues in our lives that snatch from us peace or a sense of settled purpose or contentment or all of the above. What do you do to combat the worries, the fears, the doubts, the difficulties that want first place in your life?
Some of us work harder, run farther, out-perform others, and turn to the promise of success in diligence. It is not wrong to work diligently. But, when Paul says, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," (Colossians 3:23), that's not the same thing as saying, "If you work hard, your life will be complete, and you'll be happy because you will find the success and satisfaction you are looking for." No, there is a divide between God's version of success and American can-do-ism.
Some of us turn to pleasures and escapes - some healthy and some unhealthy. Maybe you make it through the day thinking about the delicious food you will have for dinner, or the new restaurant you'll try. Maybe you can eek past another few hours without losing it by looking forward to a vacation or a day at the beach. Maybe you have turned to darker escapes like losing yourself in alcohol or pornography. God has made this a beautiful world filled with delights that can be enjoyed according to His design. But as Psalm 1 warns us, materialism and the way of the world only yields an empty life and eternal misery.
So, what does the Bible say about finding happiness and peace and purpose?
Well, I want to look at a time when happiness was rare. In the book of Nehemiah, we read of God's people trying to rebuild a broken city during the Persian empire. By the grace of God they finished rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem in only 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15). But, this victory did not end the toil. Here's the description of the city of Jerusalem with its rebuilt wall, "The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt," (Nehemiah 7:4). So, the people were living in difficult to dilapidated conditions. The wall was rebuilt, yes, but the city still looked like a wrecking ball had swung through the streets. Imagine returning to a city after an earthquake or after a hurricane. The National Guard may have secured the streets from looters, but that doesn't mean the work is done.
What would your priorities be during such a time? How would you lead your family to find joy and rest when everything was upended?
Nehemiah and the people turn to Ezra and ask to hear from God, a lot! "And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel," (Nehemiah 8:1). The returned exiles turned to God by gathering to listen to, and to obey the Bible. Ezra and others read for several hours, maybe from around seven in the morning until noon (Nehemiah 8:3). There were preachers who helped translate and explain passages in small groups, who "gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading," (Nehemiah 8:8). And, the people heard what God said. They gave their "Amen" and worshiped the God who inspired the words (Nehemiah 8:6).
Then, they ate, and drank, and celebrated the day as set apart to the Lord (Nehemiah 8:9-12). And, they noticed something. God's law told them among other things that they should celebrate the harvest and the time God brought them into the Promised Land with the Feast of Booths (Nehemiah 8:13-15). So, that's exactly what they did.
"So the people went out and brought them [tree branches] and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim," (Nehemiah 8:16). They made tents or huts and camped out on roofs or out in the open square. They obeyed God. They celebrated. And listen to the result, "And there was very great rejoicing," (Nehemiah 8:17).
Now, can't you imagine some from a pragmatic stance objecting, "We lack infrustructure and we're supposed to take a week off to camp and to feast and to read the Bible? That's not a very practical plan." Some may have even tried to use God to reason away from obeying God, "Would God really want us focused on obeying that small detail before we're safely settled here in Jerusalem? There's too much to do right now. We can celebrate the Feast next year."
But, praise the Lord, the people heard God's word and obeyed God's word, and camped in tents to remember that they had been once wanderers in the wilderness, and God had cared for them then. And, obeying God led to very great rejoicing. They found that elusive happiness.
Bringing it back to us today, the message is not merely - go camping and forget about COVID-19. No, it's simpler and better than that. The message is go back to God's word. Read the Bible, a lot. And do what God says. First, you'll be reminded of His steadfast love. Ever doubt His love? Look to the cross where God died for you. Second, you'll read that even Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments," (John 14:15). Trust God, experience the grace of forgiveness in Jesus, and by His strength obey Him. What you'll find is the immense pleasure of following God. I'm not saying all of the problems vanish. Jerusalem still had massive infrustructure problems after the Feast of Booths. But, you will experience the joy of living close to God and find there that elusive happiness. You will learn to enjoy food and the beach not as ends in themselves, but as additional avenues to praise the gracious God. Further down in the gospel of John, Jesus said, "Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing," (John 15:5).
May we turn to God to live near Him and by His Spirit in us do what He says. There is meaning. There is happiness. There is strength to endure. Happy reading, trusting, obeying, and maybe even camping.
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