You start a new day feeling neutral:
much to do, energy low. Where is joy?
But then you feed on the Bread of Life,
contemplating the words of the Son,
and strength infuses your soul.
You bow your heart to the Holy One,
grateful and reaching out in praise,
remembering all he’s done for you,
all that he is doing through you.
You ask for wisdom and guidance,
and love for others, his command.
He said you must live his way
in order to bear the kind of fruit
that never spoils, always nourished
by the Living Water from the Source
of hope, truth, and yes: joy!
Attached to the Vine, you turn your heart
to contemplate him, drinking in his love.
Then it soothes you: the surging pulse
of true belonging, precious purpose
and satisfaction as you are filled
with ebullient force, always there—
refuge that you tend not to notice.
He is here, in you, your song in the night
and your radiant Light every day,
showing you the way to shine.
Yes! The joy of the LORD is your strength!
I often wake up like that, sluggish and wishing I had fewer concerns and more joy. When it happened the other day, I went back to contemplating what Jesus said in John 15:
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (Jn. 15:9-12 NIV)
These words hit me in a new way: we must know what Jesus commands us to do and then follow through in obedience. That leads to staying attached to him and his love, full of his joy—which was to do his Father’s will. By his obedience he stayed firmly one with his Father. Now he was urging his disciples to do the same. If they did, their joy would be complete!
This reminded me of that verse in Nehemiah 8 that I learned to sing when I was a child: “The joy of the LORD is my strength!” This declaration came in the context of exiles returning to Jerusalem, rebuilding what had been lost, and then gathering to hear the Law of Moses read to them—they had not heard it during those years in a foreign land. It even had to be carefully explained by the Levites for them to understand it! But when they grasped what it meant, they grieved and mourned. They were realizing the extent to which they had broken those laws and were deeply repentant for their sins. That was when they were told that on this day that was set apart for celebrating their heritage of God’s Word they should not mourn, but rejoice!
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.” 12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Neh. 8:10-12 NIV)
God’s words now had deep meaning to them! This was a gift; now they knew how to live as he wished. The result was great joy! It reminds me of the response of Nyarafolo villagers to the Word when they heard it or learned to read it and responded with delight, never having understood it before. It underlined what a treasure it is and increased my passion to translate it into their language.
Nehemiah told the people that the joy that comes from walking with Yahweh, “LORD” in most English Bibles, is their “strength.”[1] In Hebrew that word has the meaning of “place of refuge, stronghold.”[2] His protection from the consequences of sin is his grace, and that brings relief and joy.
We too are blessed with the joy of secure relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, through our acceptance of his gracious forgiveness. When we understand what he requires of us and we follow through by obeying it, we have that joy that is our refuge from distress. We are his and he is ours! Jesus’ prayer to his Father in John 17 underlines how this amazing joy is given to those of us who are set apart for him, “sanctified”. It comes from knowing God’s word and doing what it says! Notice the emphasis on joy, protection, the truth of the Word, and mutual love (unity):
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one– 23 I in them and you in me– so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (Jn. 17:13-23 NIV)
It is deeply touching that he made it explicit in his prayer that this truth was not just for his current disciples, but for all of us who believe in Jesus. To have the full measure of his joy is to be protected, and by knowing God’s Word and following it we have the delight of being united with him and also with each other! May we live this out and be full of that underlying, constantly pulsating joy!
[1] The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translates Nehemiah 8:10b this way: Do not grieve, because the joy of the LORD is your stronghold.
[2] See Holladay, Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the OT (HOL), מָעוֹז: p. 205.
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