Advent 4: The Presence of Joy

God With Us

His love manifest in his presence.

Hope, Peace (Shalom), Joy

JOY

Deep sense of well-being. Deep, fundamental happiness:

Based on the acts of God from Old

I.e. Deliverance from Egypt.

Exodus based poem

Joy based on promise of a new world (1-2)

Joy based on new life (3-7)

The exodus pilgrims, looking ahead, did not see the blossoming, only barrenness. The blossoming came as they walked the path.

Joy of coming home (8-10)

Psalm 130 NIV

A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm

Psalm 30:1-

Psalm 30:1–5 NIV

I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

400 Prayers for Preachers A Prayer for Rejoicing in God

I pray, O God, to know you, to love you, so that I may rejoice in you. And if I cannot attain to full joy in this life, may I at least advance from day to day, until that joy shall come to the full. Let the knowledge of you advance in me here, and there be made full. Let the love of you increase, and there let it be full, that here my joy may be great in hope, and there full in truth. Lord, through your Son you command, no, you counsel us to ask; and you promise that we shall receive, that our joy may be full. I ask, O Lord, as you counsel through our wonderful Counsellor. I will receive what you promise by virtue of your truth, that my joy may be full. Faithful God, I ask. I will receive, that my joy may be full. Meanwhile, let my mind meditate upon it; let my tongue speak of it. Let my heart love it; let my mouth talk of it. Let my soul hunger for it; let my flesh thirst for it; let my whole being desire it, until I enter into your joy, O Lord, who are the Three and the One God, blessed forever and ever. Amen.

ANSELM OF CANTERBURY

400 Prayers for Preachers A Prayer for Rejoicing in God

I pray, O God, to know you, to love you, so that I may rejoice in you. And if I cannot attain to full joy in this life, may I at least advance from day to day, until that joy shall come to the full. Let the knowledge of you advance in me here, and there be made full. Let the love of you increase, and there let it be full, that here my joy may be great in hope, and there full in truth. Lord, through your Son you command, no, you counsel us to ask; and you promise that we shall receive, that our joy may be full. I ask, O Lord, as you counsel through our wonderful Counsellor. I will receive what you promise by virtue of your truth, that my joy may be full. Faithful God, I ask. I will receive, that my joy may be full. Meanwhile, let my mind meditate upon it; let my tongue speak of it. Let my heart love it; let my mouth talk of it. Let my soul hunger for it; let my flesh thirst for it; let my whole being desire it, until I enter into your joy, O Lord, who are the Three and the One God, blessed forever and ever. Amen.