Joy

Nehemiah 8 v10 – The Joy of the Lord is your strength

In these days of lockdown, we are lacking joy in our lives, so maybe thinking of joy in the scriptures, would help us.

PTL 277 – To be in your presence. Click here to listen.

Paul – Galatians 6 v17

At the end of Galatians it says “he bears in his body the marks of Christ”.
Acts 9 v16 “shows him how great things he will suffer”. Acts 14 v19, at Lystra Paul was stoned and left for dead. 2 Corinthians 11 v24-27, Paul refers to the things he did suffer. Then in Philippians 3 v21 he refers to his body as being vile. Paul counted his body as being nothing, unlike today where they worship their bodies, in reality TV shows etc. Galatians 6 v14 Paul says “God forbid that I should glory save in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul lived to preach.
2 Timothy 1 v4 may be filled with joy. Paul Philippians 4 v1 my Joy’s crown – the Church.

King David after being anointed spent some
ten years pursued by Saul (1 Samuel16 v13 David anointed). The Lord God says to David in 2 Samuel 7 v9 “I was with thee” and then the question is - Did David know this? and the answer – yes. David was a prophet-priest and king.

Psalm 23

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me.
5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 27 v4 – To dwell in the house of the Lord.)

It is the best known of all the psalms. A psalm of comfort speaks of God’s loving care to his followers. It is a psalm that shows God as a caring, all-powerful presence in the life of David. It’s here that David reflects on the concern and care which he had for his father’s flock and he sees God doing the same for him.

When we look at David in the psalms, despite his unceasing troubles, we see that these could never dim David’s
Joy in God. Time and time again we read sing, shout for JoyRejoice.

What is Joy?

A vivid emotion of pleasure.
Things that cause delight.

1 Chronicles 23 v5

David had an orchestra of some 4,000. They had string instruments – harp and psaltery, wind instruments – flute, pipe, horn, trumpet, percussion – cymbals and timbrels, all coming together to sing and
Rejoice before God. Psalm 30 v1-5 – I will extol thee – Joy cometh in the morning.

Singing and
Joy are to be found with God. At creation Job 38 v4-7 “when all the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for Joy” and then at the birth of Jesus Luke 2 v13-14, we have the angels praising God.

What is Joy? – Things that cause delight

Job 38 v25-27 Rain on the wilderness – purely for the Joy of it bringing forth life.

David rejoiced in the praise of his God unlike Israel of old
Deuteronomy 28 v47not with Joy, fullness and gladness.

David rejoiced in the fact that
Joy comes in the morning. The night of sin and pain having passed Psalm 30 v5.

David was beset by his enemies
Psalm 5 v1-12.

Then in
Psalm 145 v1 and 3 we have the Joy of praise.

Green Hymn Book 395Joy cometh. Click here to sing along to the accompaniment.

Then in
Psalm 56 v1-4 – I will not fear what flesh can do.

Psalm 34 v1-5 David shows complete confidence in God.

Psalms 56–60 are called “Michtam” that is a record of memorable events.

Psalms 95-100 are normally called Theocratic psalms. Praising God.

Psalms 146-150 are Hallelujah psalms – “Praise ye the Lord” – making a joyous end to the psalms but it does not end there because Revelation 19 v1-3 refers to Hallelujah and 19 v 4-7.

David in
Psalm 23 v6 -his hope was to “dwell in the house of the Lord” – which is our hope.

JD
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