THE JOY OF THE LORD

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10b)

That’s an interesting statement from Nehemiah.  The context of his statement includes hundreds of exiled Jews returning to their homeland.  They then gathered before their leaders, who took turns reading from the Torah, the law of God.  Hearing the law caused the people to first worship and then to mourn.  Nehemiah encourages them to find strength in God’s joy.  What causes God to have joy?  And why would His joy strengthen them?

First, God’s joy pertains to those He has chosen to be His children.  From Ephesians 1:4-5: “…just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…”

In what seemed like a daily basis, the Jews disappointed God, but they always remained His chosen.  Years later, there was another ‘choosing.’  Through the Son’s sacrifice of His own life, God the Father could now enjoy vibrant relationships with those He chose to be His children. 

That choosing is irrefutable and irreversible.  His children bask in the strength of that choosing.  Later in Ephesians, we find this statement: “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians1:13-14)

The Father expresses joy in His children just like the father exulted in joy when his prodigal son returned home—so much so he showered his returning son with his best clothes and jewelry.  He ordered the fatted calf to be slain in preparation for a homecoming feast. (Luke 15:11-32)

How then is the son not strengthened by the father’s joy in him?  We hold memories of our own fathers looking down upon us with joy in their hearts.  We found strength, security and comfort in his joyful gaze.

How much more will we be strengthened by becoming the child of God Almighty?  Imagine being adopted by Him and coming into His rest and the security of His outstretched arms.  Overflowing with joy, He gazes down at you.  You know whole-heartedly He will never leave you or give you up.

Remember Peter?  The denier of Christ?  The instant his third denial left his lips and the rooster crowed, Peter believed He had lost all hope in having any kind of relationship with Jesus.  (Luke 22:61-62)

Yet, years later, this is what Peter writes in his epistle: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  (1 Peter 1:3-7)

From a denier without hope, the restored and strengthened Peter writes of ‘mercy,’ ‘living hope,’ ‘inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled,’ and ‘protected by the power of God.’  Then God’s Word commands us to greatly rejoice in these truths. 

The joy of the Lord in us, His children, is our indestructible strength. Basking in the glory of His joy in us, our own joy blossoms, helping us to create a life capable of facing every trial menacing our lives.