HOW IMPORTANT IS THE JOY OF THE LORD?

"Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

What Is The Joy of the Lord?

Precisely what is "the joy of the Lord?" Is it a mere feeling? Is it some form of hype, whereby the soul is exhilarated, and life in general becomes a blur? Is it a laughing fit, or some form of convulsion in which the control of our person is lost? First, the joy of the Lord comes FROM the Lord--it is the joy OF the Lord. Second, it focuses UPON the Lord, Who Himself the Cause for rejoicing. It is the "joy of the LORD!" This is a "joy" that cannot be possessed apart from the Lord. It is also a "joy" that is not possible apart from an acute awareness of the Lord. When joy expresses itself, that expression is called "rejoicing." How poignantly Isaiah stated the case for us. "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels" (Isa 61:10). There is spiritual happiness. There is the awareness of the Lord Himself. There is the cognizance of what the Lord has done. There is participation in the great salvation of God. When David rejoiced, for example, he often sang praise to God (Psa 9:2). Rejoicing is a matter of the heart--it is something in which the real "YOU" participates. As it is written, "But I have trusted in thy mercy; MY HEART shall rejoice in thy salvation" (Psa 13:5). The "heart," as you must know, is superior to your mind, always being mentioned first when both words are used in Scripture (1 Sam 2:35; 1 Chron 28:9; Matt 22:37). Here is the seat of our emotions and will. It is the constraining aspect of the human nature--and the joy of the Lord is there! Other terms reflecting "the joy of the Lord" are "delight" (Psa 119:16; Isa 66:11), gladness (Psa 4:7; Acts 2:46), "cheer" (John 16:33), "happy" (Psa 127:5; 1 Pet 4:14), and "pleasures" (Psa 16:11).

No Need for Deficiency

God's people do not need to be deficient in this area. There are such Kingdom realities as "ALL joy" (James 1:2), "joy UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory" (1 Pet 1:8), "EXCEEDING joy" (1 Pet 4:13), and having joy that is "FULL" or "complete" (1 John 1:4).

Absolutely Necessary

Our text states, "the joy of the LORD is your strength." Why is this so? Because the individual is exulting IN the Lord, thereby revealing preoccupation with Him. This brings the Lord into the experience of life. Actually, the Lord Himself is our Strength (Ex 15:2; Psa 28:7; 118:14). However, the "joy of the Lord" brings us into the experience of that strength. Thus when Paul and Silas sang praises at the midnight hour, Divine intervention soon occurred (Acts 16:25ff). Unless you live with a lively consciousness of the Living God, you cannot be spiritually strong. The joy of the Lord is necessary for spiritual stability. It is requisite for triumph over the evil one. Without it, not much will be accomplished for the Lord Jesus Christ. It is no wonder the Spirit testifies, "Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright" (Psa 33:11). And again, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil 4:4).

Still Cannot Rejoice?

Still, some, under the weight of difficult circumstances, may doubt they can rejoice. Allow me to close with the testimony of Habakkuk the prophet, who did not enjoy the fulness Christ has brought to you. "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments" (Hab 3:17-19). Now--PUT THAT TO MUSIC!

-- MONDAY: MAINTAIN IT AT ALL COST, #2 --