Metaphors and The Bible-The Joy of the Lord is My Strength

This passage is interesting to me.  It comes from Nehemiah 8.  I started to write about this passage based on how the joy of the Lord has indeed been my strength but then I read the context of the verse and I cannot ignore the context.  I have seen the scripture distorted too many times by taking it out of context to speak to this passage that way.  It would be easy for me to explain how my faith has sustained me through hard times, how joy is much deeper than happiness and that deep understanding does give strength but I have to unpack this metaphor in the context of the passage.

The Israelite elite had been released from captivity and allowed to return home.  Nehemiah asked permission to go help his people who are still in ruins.  They rebuildt the wall and gates of Jerusalem and Ezra and the…