Over the past few weeks, I have been quietly and out loud saying; “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Now, I know this can be a cliché’; something that is said religiously without any thought about what is being spoken. However, this is not the way I have rehearsed these eight words. Rather, I have meditated on them, considering the glory and the freedoms these brief words contain. Perhaps the best way I can describe it is, I feel as if I have chewed on these words the way one savors and enjoys a perfectly grilled juicy steak.
How is it that the Scriptures speak of “the joy of the Lord is our strength?” Perhaps we might say it like this. The joy, which is the Lord’s… is my strength. Do you think of God in this way? The Lord is happy, He is joy! And, it is from the Lord’s joy that you and I are to receive strength.
…For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:9-10
Nehemiah 8 records Ezra reading the book of the law as the people were returning to the Lord, His Word, and the worship of Him. As they returned to the Lord in repentance, the Lord restored their relationship with Him and this was expressed in the Lord’s joy which was to be their strength… and is our strength.
Don’t believe me? Consider a few more “joy” texts from God’s Word.
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
In Zephaniah, the wayward downtrodden people of God were now in the presence of God. Those who had rejected the Lord, those who once fled from God, were, once again, in the presence of God. And, God’s joy, His delight in His people jumps off the written page as we see Him joyfully celebrating and singing over them with loud singing. Friends…. that is…. AMAZING!
Nothing less than Christ’s sacrifice has redeemed us and brought us, a people, who once had rejected Him, into His very presence! Christian, do you know that your God rejoices over you with singing? That is what the Gospel does. Consider further Luke 15 and the three parables told in succession by Jesus concluding with the Father’s joy as the prodigal son has returned home! His Joy! His Delight! His celebration, once again, jumps off the page.
Perhaps this is why when the book of Hebrews exhorts us to endure and not grow weary, we read;
…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
How might the cross be considered a “joy”? It is in what the cross accomplishes, which is a restored relationship with His people. Well, it is that “joy OF the Lord” that is to be our strength.
Meaning, we are to find the Lord’s joy over us to be a strength to us. Where else might we find this theme?
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11
The context of John 15:11 is Christ’s instructions for us to “abide in the vine.” Jesus is that vine and we are connected to Him in that we are the branches. That is what John 15 is all about. This is not Jesus simply saying that He wants us to have a dose of joy. It is much more than that. He is saying that we are to have a fullness of joy BECAUSE His own joy is in us. And why is His joy in us? Well, that is because we are abiding in the vine! And, how are we abiding in the vine? Once again, this is because of the cross! We are restored in our relationship with God, we are connected to Christ! Or, we might say it like the Psalmist.
“In your presence there is fullness of joy.”
Psalm 16:11
I have had some struggles these past few weeks and that is why I have considered this; “joy of the Lord is my strength.” In reality, my struggles have been pale in comparison to most Christians across the world! Nevertheless, they are struggles and they easily distract me from the glory that I am saved, I am connected to Christ, and the Holy Spirit lives in me. The Father’s joy is to be my strength.
One day all the struggles of this life will be over. Unsurprisingly, we will enter into the presence of God for eternity and God’s Word speaks of that day in this way:
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Matthew 25:23
Join me, in the face of our struggles, and fight for the “joy of the Lord is my strength?”
I have taken these over-familiar words and made them my banner of 2018. After another tragedy hit our little family for the second year, the Lord brought these known-but-not-fully-rooted words to my heart. The joy of the Lord has truly been my strength….what else do I have? And what else do I need? In the tension of the “already” (finished work of Christ) on the earth and the “not yet” (eternity), these words carry us. God Himself has welcomed me/us into His family and woven us together by His sacrifice and ascension. He is our sustainable strength. Thank you, Lord!!
“…what else do I have?” Well put Miquel!
I think you should write a post for the Gospel Connections blog!