John Piper frequently quotes the French philosopher Pascal, who wrote in Pensees, “All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. the cause of some going to war and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attending with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this objective. This is the motive of every man, even of those who hang themselves.”
All men indeed seek happiness. Yet it is elusive for many. In fact, many are profoundly sad, sorrowful, discouraged and depressed. As discordant as this sounds, what they (and all men) need is greater sorrow.
This was the experience of Israel. Through the ministry of Nehemiah, God rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after the nation of Israel came back from captivity in Babylon. After those walls were completed, the people asked Ezra to resume his teaching ministry to them (Neh. 8:1), which he did.
And an astounding thing happened as he read and explained the Law: the people broke out with tears and mourning (Neh. 8:9-11). Why would they grieve as the Scriptures were taught? They grieved because they heard how miserably they had failed to uphold and keep the God’s Law. In a word, the gravity of their guilt convicted them to the point that they grieved physically.
The question naturally arises then, “How is grief joy?” Grief over our sin is joy because it reveals the gracious nature of God’s forgiveness. Nehemiah’s response to their grief is straightforward and hopeful: Eat the feast, and be strengthened by a new delight in the provision of God’s holiness (Neh. 8:10).
When a man is confronted by the wretched reality of his sin, he not only cries out, “Who can liberate me from this horridness?” (Rom. 7:24), but he also cries with delight, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25). The joy for the Old Testament Jew was that the feasts demonstrated the promise of God to forgive the sins of men. The joy for men today is that the work of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection has secured the comfort of forgiveness. This is what Christ means when he says, “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted” (Mt. 5:4).
As preposterous as it seems to our puny, inadequate, finite minds, the affirmation of the Word of God is that genuine, repentant sorrow for sin produces delight and joy in the provision of God to forgive us (cf. also 2 Cor. 7:9-10).
Sorrow yields joy.
And that joy is not only a strength, it is a stronghold, a fortress. The Jews understood that. Upon returning from Babylon the Israelites rebuilt the temple, but it would be some 70 years before the walls of the city would be rebuilt. That meant that for those 70 years they were particularly susceptible to invasion and attack. They had few defenses. But with the wall rebuilt around the city, they were more capable of withstanding attacks — their stronghold was rebuilt.
Just as the walls around the city provided strong physical security for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so a full confession of sin and a joyful embracing of God’s forgiveness provide security for the follower of God.
When men seek happiness, what they are seeking is holiness that will allow them to fellowship with God Himself. That joyful holiness comes only from confession of sin and the appropriation of God’s forgiveness.
Words of Grace 