THE JOY OF THE LORD
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 126 (CSB)
A song of ascents.
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Our mouths were filled with laughter then,
and our tongues with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord had done great things for us;
we were joyful.
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like watercourses in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.
Though one goes along weeping,
carrying the bag of seed,
he will surely come back with shouts of joy,
carrying his sheaves.
Song of ascents: sung as they went to celebrate feast and worship in Jerusalem.
15- Psalm 120-134
Joy Comes Through Remembering
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Our mouths were filled with laughter then,
and our tongues with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
As the Nation of Israel crosses the Jordan river
in Joshua 4 they are instructed to pick up 12 large stones and pile them up
21 and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22 you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24 This is so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is strong, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God.”
Why was it so important to have a pillar to remind them? because their forefathers forgot!
Joy Is A Choice
Psalm 126:3 (CSB)
The Lord had done great things for us;
we were joyful.
10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Isaiah 25:9 (CSB)
On that day it will be said,
“Look, this is our God;
we have waited for him, and he has saved us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him.
Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Joy is not an accident of temperament or an unpredictable providence; joy is a matter of choice.
J. I. Packer
Joy in God is the happiest of all joys.
Charles Spurgeon
Joy Comes Through Prayer
Prayer is a change of focus
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like watercourses in the Negev.
I thought God’s purpose was to make me full of happiness and joy. It is, but it is happiness and joy from God’s standpoint, not from mine.
Oswald Chambers
I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
Steams in the Desert!
Showers of Blessing
Joy Comes By Standing On God’s Promises
Those who sow in tears
will reap with shouts of joy.
Though one goes along weeping,
carrying the bag of seed,
he will surely come back with shouts of joy,
carrying his sheaves.
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.
John Calvin
