Joy of God

God is the source of joy

28 The hope of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), Pr 10:28.

Rick Warren adds his own definition: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”

Theopedia describes it more convincingly as “a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope.”

we define joy by more than a moment—it is more than circumstances. Happiness is dictated by circumstance.

Joy rises from that confident assurance of God’s goodness, now and into the future. In the same way, I aim for my family—and yours—to experience that goodness and to impact others for good, now and into the future.

Psalm 37:4 ESV

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

See also 1 Sa 2:1; Ne 1:11; Ne 12:43; Is 61:10; Jn 15:11; Php 4:4

English Standard Version Psalm 92

4  For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

English Standard Version Psalm 84

My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God

God rejoices in the restoration of his people

Jeremiah 32:41 ESV

I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

See also Is 62:4–5 He rejoices as does a bridegroom; Is 65:19; Je 31:20 He rejoices as does a father; Zep 3:17

Joy can be found in the heavenly presence of God

1 Chronicles 16:27 ESV

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

At creation:

Job 38:4–7; Pr 8:30–31

Lk 15:7 over sinners who repent

Causes of God’s joy

His own works

Jeremiah 9:24 ESV

but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

His chosen servant

Mt 12:18; Is 42:1; Heb 1:9; Ps 45:7

Jesus Christ

Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5

The restored temple

Haggai 1:8 ESV

Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.

His people and their worship

Psalm 149:4–9 ESV

For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord!

See also Ps 69:30–31

Repentance

Deuteronomy 30:9 ESV

The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers,

Obedience, honesty and integrity

1 Sa 15:22; Pr 12:22

See also 1 Ch 29:17; Ps 147:10–11; Pr 11:1; Pr 11:20

God’s face shining on his people

Nu 6:25 When God’s face shines on his people his divine pleasure and joy is implied.

Ps 67:1 See also; 80:19; 119:135

By contrast God’s face is against evil, showing his displeasure:

Ps 34:16; 1 Pe 3:12