I Still Have Joy

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The Bible is clear, whenever the salvation of God is discussed, joy is also part of the picture. It is to suggest that a natural and expected part of my disposition and attitude when I am saved, is to have joy in my soul.

“I have that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart”

It is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit that helps me abide and endure all that life has to throw at me. It is something that I can turn to, to assist me in the madness and the mayhem.

It is that abiding gladness I feel not because of the world, but because of God

When things fall apart, relationship break down, situations come up suddenly like a rising flood, when I am burden in sorrow. I have pain, I have problems, I have a lot on my plate, but. . .

I can still, have joy

It is necessary and vital for the contemporary Christian who has to face challenges, that sometimes get in your way of having the character God wants you to have, to still have joy!

Theologically

A systematic scan of the Hebrew Scriptures, which we call the Old Testament, will reveal four (4) prominent words translated joy. From these, we can develop a some themes which can be used to understand joy.

Chedvah - We see joy as something that God possess, which I can attain. We also notice that this is a joy that is also associated with God’s strength - Nehemiah 8:10 “10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.””

Gil - This joy emp. a state, attitude or disposition and is associated with dancing and celebration [this is the joy in Gal 5:22]

Sasson - This word too emp the joy of the heart

The final word of interest, though there are other words that express joy (govim, tehilla), is the word rinnah. This word is not simply a residing joy but a resounding joy. This is not a joy that is inward but outward. In fact other joys find expression in rinnah.

This is a celebration joy, an exultant joy, a dancing and singing joy, “said I wasn’t gonna tell anybody but I can’t keep it to myself” JOY

I wish to posit that this too is a joy that can and should find its place in the life of the Christian

Joy did not change between Testaments

This exuberant joy is seen in a few Greek terms

Agalliao - Luke 10:21 “21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.”

Chairo - this is the verb form of chara (joy). It is an expression of joy. We have residing joy, but does our residing joy have voice?

Matthew 5:12 “12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

1 Peter 4:13 “13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

Revelation 19:7 “7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.””

Philippians 4:4 “4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” - And when you don’t have a situation to rejoice, just rejoice in the Lord.

I want us to consider this joy in action in the story of King Jehoshaphat

This narrative shows how Judah and its king faced an extremely difficult situation but was able to allow JOY to reside and resound.

APPL. This means that I too can face difficulty, and pressures, enemies, agendas and accusations, bad relationships - AND STILL HAVE JOY

The writer of Chronicles knows that his audience’s morale is low. They are seeking hope after returning from exile.

More importantly, they are rebuilding their spiritual lives, so the stories, and how they are presented are aimed to help them do just that. They need to see that something like JOY is not so easily displaced by external circumstances; it can reside and even resound!

And I hope that this thought can encourage someone today.

Jehoshaphat is the 4th king of Judah (divided kingdom). He is presented as a king that is faithful to God though made some questionable calls like allowing his son to marry Ahab’s daughter, and going out into battle with Ahab even when the prophet said they will lose. For that he was rebuked by Jehu. [ch. 18]

In Chap 19, Jeho. is seen as someone who commits himself to seek the Lord, he also encourages the people to turn to the Lord

2 Chronicles 19:3 “3 “But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.””

This was evidenced by the reforms he began to make, intalling judges, teaching the ways of God to the judges, appointing Levites and priests to serve.

But in chap. 20 - After the changes, after the reforms, after committing his was to the Lord - trying to go right and do right

War comes at his doorsteps

APPL. It is interesting to me how trouble often shows up when you have decided to try to do right.

You were lying, cheating and stealing before and making it, now I’m committing to God, WAR, is at my doorsteps

It might be the devil, who’s trying to get back your loyalty and devotion

It might be that the genuiness of your faith is being tried like gold, so that it could be found to result in praise and glory ang honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ - if that’s the case, Peter says, 1 Peter 1:8 “8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

1 Peter 4:12–14 “12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”

Can you commit to what is right when all hell is breaking loose in your life? War was at his door.

All the congregation came together to fast - A strong congregation goes through the wilderness together! A strong congregation goes to war together.

APPL. There’s power when a leader runs to God first. There might be even more when the entire Congregation runs to God together!

A war is coming but I can still have joy, I’m in the wilderness but I can still have joy

Jeho. prays a bery beautiful prayer that teaches some things that are foundational to JOY

Joy keeps keeps a constant focus because it knows what it experienced, it knows what it has presently, and it knows what’s ahead. It has a proper persepctive of the past, the present and the future.

That’s why it doesn’t need to be in a joyous situation for it to show up!

Consider how this prayer captures each element

Jeho. says, 2 Chronicles 20:7 “7 “Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?” PAST

Jeho says, 2 Chronicles 20:6 “6 and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.” PRESENT

Jeho says 2 Chronicles 20:12 “12 “O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”” FUTURE

That’s why Nehemiah could tell the people, don’t weep, the Joy of the Lord is your strength

That’s why the Heb writer could say of Jesus Hebrews 12:2–3 “2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

I can still have Joy!

After the prayer, the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel

He wasn’t a prophet, or a warrior, or a strategist

He was a Levite, of the sons of Asaph - a singer. Not a leader of war, but a leader of worship

The battle is not yours, but God’s

That’s why they didn’t need a warrior, they need someone to lead in worship. It was time to praise God.

The sound of victory would not be from a sword but a song

Future deliverance was met with a shout of joy in the present

Aren’t you glad that you can start shouting, and celebrating today for the victory God will bring tomorrow. That’s why I can still have joy now in the midst of what I face because tomorrw the victory is ALREADY won!

That’s why you can prasie your way through the pain

You can worship your way throught the wars

Their can be a song on your lips, when there is sorrow in your heart

You can still have JOY!!!

This song, this prasie this worship was not empty. There was theology to accompany the melody.

They had faith in God

2 Chronicles 20:17 “17 ‘You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.””

This propelled them to worship

2 Chronicles 20:18 “18 Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.”

APPL. Don’t be so married to the work, that you neglect your worship - do not downplay time in God’s presence.

Our Text

Jeho. gives them more theology. Joy is based on sound theology. It is also rooted in the saving work of God

There is no talking salvation, without talking Joy!

2 Chronicles 20:20 “20 They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.””

Jeho then does something strange, he puts the singers at the front.

Those who led in worship, were leading the army to war - A strong church has many features, one of them is “worshipping church”

This is a church where folks appreciate their salvation so much, that they can’t help but bow down and give glory to God. - They are ready to have a resounding joy for the God of their salvation.

Once again we see that this joy is not theologically empty

2 Chronicles 20:21 “21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.””

This truth bolstered their joy and fueled their praise

2 Chronicles 20:22 “22 When they began singing [rinnah] and praising [tehilla], the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.”

Rinna - an expression of a joyful state

Tehilla - a song of praise on the lips

This joy was not just something to keep them in a good mood, but it was rooted in a trust that God would move on their behalf.

Maybe, God is waiting for you to stop strategising, stop scheming, start singing and He’ll start fighting. IDK - but you can still have JOY!!!

Start singing your song when you face difficult, overwhelming circumstances in this life

“Leaning on the everlasting arms”

“On Christ the solid rock I stand”

“There’s not a friend like the Lowly Jesus”

The enemies ended up killing each other (vs. 23-24)

APPL. Stop fighting battles that should’ve been handed over to God

Stop answering them, stop fussing with them, stop trying to manipulate and change them. Start praising your God! Let God deal with them

The import of the text is that it took a very short time for God to win the battle, but it took them a long time to gather all the blessings

“You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies”

If you left the fight to God maybe you would’ve been reaping the spoils today!!!

The same ground that could’ve been a place of death, demise, and destruction

Became a place of abundance, bounty, and blessing.

I know this makes people uneasy because of the abuse and misuse of these teachings in the religious world. But, the Bible is still right! Don’t let the abuse of the teaching rob you of the truth in the teaching.

When the collection of the spoils was over, and they made thier way back home, they still had Joy.

2 Chronicles 20:27 “27 Every man of Judah and Jerusalem returned with Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.”

This kind of joy is only possible and present with the God of salvation in your life

Remember Paul and Silas down in the dungeon, in stocks, possibly naked, in darkness, nursing pain from the beatings

But they still had joy. They sang a “hymnos” that is a song of praise

“I need thee every hour, in joy or pain”

“Through many dangers toil or snares I have already come, tis grace that brought me safe thus far, tis grace will lead me home”

“Hold to his hands, God’s unchanging hands. Build yourhopes on things eternal. . .”