Advent

Joy

2 Samuel 9:6-13

6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” 9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

In Christ, the lost station and purity of Adam are restored to us who have inherited his fallen condition.

We see the bringing of good news to a guy who thought bad was sure to happen.

This good news spread joy to all in the scene. David, Mephibosheth, the friends and family of Mephibosheth.

The church must rally around the point that we have a good news to tell the world.

Christmas is the Gospel.

The work of the Gospel brings:

-Joy to the believer.

What unspeakable joy we have as believers.

“It jumps under one’s ribs and tickles down one’s back and makes one forget meals and keeps one (delightedly) sleepless o’ nights. It shocks one awake when the other puts one to sleep. My private table is one second of joy is worth 12 hours of Pleasure.” CS Lewis

-Joy to those who hear.

When we share the good news and they repent of their sins, we see a great joy with the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

The gospel is only good news when we understand the bad news.

— R. C. Sproul

-Joy to the Lord.

God desires that his people thrive in his Joy. This truly is his joy, desire, and plan.

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” CS Lewis

Psalm 126 ESV

A Song of Ascents. When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

The Lord has promised to return, and we know that he will be faithful to this promise. Since we know that he will return, we should prepare for his arrival w great joy.