Adapted from: A Daily Dose of Preparation for Yamim Noraim by Rabbi David Sutton

לְכוּ אִכְלוּ מַשְׁמַנִּים וּשְׁתוּ מַמְתַקִּים וְשִׁלְחוּ מָנוֹת לְאֵין נָכוֹן לוֹ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ הַיּוֹם לַאֲדֹנֵינוּ 

וְאַל תֵּעָצֵבוּ כִּי חֶדְוַת ה’ הִיא מָעֻזְּכֶם — 

Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet beverages, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared. For today is sacred to our L-rd. Do not be sad; the enjoyment of Hashem is your strength (Nechemiah 8:10).

This verse was spoken on the very first Rosh Hashanah after the Jewish people returned to Yerushalayim following seventy years of exile in Bavel. The people gathered in the plaza before the Shaar HaMayim, the Water Gate, and asked Ezra to read to them from the Sefer Torah, and he granted their request. Soon, the Jews began to cry, as they realized they had been neglecting the mitzvos written in the Sefer Torah; they understood how many halachos they had forgotten during Galus Bavel. Ezra, Nechemiah, and the Leviim consoled them and told them not to be sad on Rosh Hashanah.

But, we may ask: If the Jews felt overwhelming regret for their sins, which is a good thing, why did Nechemiah and the others tell them not to be sad? It was Rosh Hashanah, after all, and they were demonstrating such powerful repentance, to the point of tears.

Because, as Nechemiah continued in our pasuk, חֶדְוַת ה’ הִיא מָעֻזְּכֶם — The enjoyment of Hashem is your strength. Our strength lies in rejoicing with Hashem, in serving Him out of simchah.

For this reason, after blowing the shofar, we recite the pasuk (Tehillim 89:16): אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם יֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה ה’ בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יְהַלֵּכוּן — Praiseworthy is the people who know the shofar’s cry; Hashem, in the light of Your countenance they walk. As mentioned, R’ Wolbe notes that this is a pasuk of joy; we are thrilled with our good fortune. How fortunate are we to know the secret of the shofar, the way to stir ourselves to repentance when we hear its sound! Furthermore, when we listen to the call of the shofar and repent, we merit walking in the light of Hashem’s countenance. As the next pasuk in Tehillim says: בְּשִׁמְךָ יְגִילוּן כָּל הַיּוֹם וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ יָרוּמוּ — In Your Name they will rejoice all day long, and through Your righteousness they will be exalted. Who wouldn’t long to rejoice along with Hashem all day?

R’ Wolbe states that at the time of the shofar blowing, our Sages chose to recite verses of joy, because there is no greater joy than accepting the yoke of Hashem’s Kingship, which is what we do on Rosh Hashanah. We should, in fact, be dancing in the middle of our Mussaf prayers. When we say עָלֵינוּ לְשַׁבֵּחַ לַאֲדוֹן הַכֹּל — It is our duty to praise the Master of all, we should stop and transform the moment into a Simchas Torah of sorts. Yet, at the same time, we still feel eimas haDin, the awe of judgment — which is why we don’t dance.

It is fitting for the days of repentance to begin with accepting the yoke of Hashem’s Kingship with joy. After this foundational acceptance, we can then move on to repentance for specific sins, which culminates on Yom Kippur.

The concept of accepting Hashem’s Kingship in joy can also be found in our evening prayers, when we say, וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בְּרָצוֹן קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה — And His Kingship they accepted upon themselves willingly. Moshe and the Bnei Yisrael raised their voices to You in song with abundant gladness and sang a song to You.

This took place at the time of Krias Yam Suf. And what verse did Klal Yisrael exclaim in this state of joy, as they willingly accepted Hashem’s Kingship upon themselves?

The verse that became the first verse of the Malchuyos of Mussaf of Rosh Hashanah: ה’ יִמְלֹךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד — Hashem shall reign for all eternity (Shemos 15:18).

The objective isn’t to serve Hashem with bitterness or sadness. On the contrary, the aim is to be thrilled to be an eved Hashem, a servant of God, one who carries His yoke willingly and gladly.