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There are many who say, 'Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!'
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine …
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There are many who say, 'Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!'
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound." (Psalm 4:6-7)
In the context of this psalm, the writer is declaring that even in the midst of opposition and hardship, the joy that the Lord gives is greater than the wealth possessed by his adversaries. Oftentimes when things in our lives as Christ followers are difficult, it is challenging to have joy. I know in my life, to “rejoice” when things are tough is antithetical to how I feel inside. So how do I keep the “joy” in my heart when I don’t feel it?
Nehemiah 8:10 is one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. It says, “... the joy of the Lord is my strength.” This was written to the Jewish people in the midst of opposition. When the law of God was read, the people were reminded of the goodness of God and how he had rescued his people before. Joy for them was found when they were reminded of God himself. It didn’t make sense to those around them. How could a people with such great resistance find such joy? Their joy came with the knowledge of who God is and what he has done.
This is part of our Christian witness. Just as the Jewish people in Nehemiah’s day, we too have reason to rejoice. And, like them, we have a joy that doesn’t make sense to the world’s way of thinking. Many see joy as a reaction to something happening to them. Christians find joy because the Lord rules over them and has redeemed them. That is why in I Peter 1:8, Peter says we have, “... joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” Christian, be encouraged today that the source of your joy is not how you feel, not your circumstances, not your possessions. Our joy is the Lord himself, the Holy Spirit of God that is in all of his followers.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) Be reminded, as the psalmist said, that God has “put more joy in my heart” than anything this world could ever offer!
(Tim Morrow is the pastor of New Life Church of Powell.)
