28. —The Joy Of Gods People.
This beautiful subject, as we observed last month, fitly closes for the present the researches of the Bible Students’ Class. It is subdivided into Old and New Testament divisions.
Nothing could be in greater contrast than the subject for last month and that for the one before. The tears of God’s children are not a pleasure to God for their own sakes; their praises are. The tears are at most only occasional, the joy should be continuous. The tears are often shed in connection with some sin; praise and joy are not. The tears cast down, the joy lifts up. The tears fall to the ground, the praises rise to God. Thus we might continue the long list of contrasts.
Praise moreover, has a special place to a Christian. It is the first and foremost of the sacrifices he is called upon to offer as a holy priest to God. It is the only sacrifice that is to be offered continually. The darkness of the night is to be no hindrance to praise; trial and suffering are to bring it out, though here it may actually be mingled with the very tears that are its contrast. The Christian is never viewed as placed by God in any situation or place that renders praise impossible. It is a wonderful thing to consider what true praise and godly joy are. The one thing ascending from this sin-stained earth, that is a joy to, and is grateful to God. Prayers He hears and answers, but praise He looks for and accepts through Christ. Think for a moment of the chain of praise that has ascended from this sin-stricken world from the first face that was lifted gratefully heavenward, till we come to that One, who at the moment when deeply tried could say, “ I thank thee, O Father,” and then to go onward down the river of Christian praise that broadens as it flows. Precious praise from the lips of dying martyrs, from the thousands who have counted not their lives dear unto them, But we must proceed briefly to consider the subject before us. “The joy of Old Testament saints.”
One great fact stands out at once so prominently that it must strike every reader of the subject, and that is the great joy of the Old Testament saint in God’s house. Not merely in God, but in His house, and in all connected with His service. This is especially noticeable in the 2nd Division, where about one half of all the instances given are joys connected with God’s house, or service.
The interests of God’s house are, alas! now sadly neglected, although of late years He has given to some a revived interest in them. Personal salvation is a great thing and was unknown to these Old Testament saints, but having this, it is not God’s will we should be content with it, but should rather look upon it as the entrance door into the wide sphere of His interests on earth, among which, those of His house claim a large place. For He has a house not built of stones, but of living souls.
Connected with the house too is a worship and a service, as well defined, though spiritual in their nature, as those of Israel of old.
Turning now to the first section, we observe that the general joy in God may be subdivided into three.
Joy in God’s presence, of which we have two examples. Joy in God’s word, of which we have three instances. joy in God’s help or salvation, of which we have four. Now these are clearly different in character. In God’s salvation I get what He does for me, showing His strength on My behalf; in God’s word I get what He teaches me, showing His wisdom in guiding me; while in His presence I get positive unmixed delight in His very self. Wonderful indeed, that in old Testament times God’s grace could inspire such confidence as to make this last possible. Now we as Christians have these three, and all three should be our delight.
Passing on to section 2, we notice that, with hardly an exception, the whole joy here is in the future restoration of the Jews, when praise, after having been silent in Zion for some 2,000 years, will again burst forth. We, far off sinners of the Gentiles do not wait for this time to sing our glad song of reconciliation. We have been brought back, and the new song has been put into our mouths, even praise unto our God.
We have already noticed the wonderful place that the joy in God’s house has in the znd division. Besides this we notice great joy when a fresh king was crowned, doubtless typical of the coming joy when God’s king shall at last appear and the whole earth shall rejoice. Singularly the list closes with a solitary type of purely selfish joy soon rebuked by God. Although Jonah was a child of God, we could not regard this as a specimen of Christian joy, which is never selfish. Much, no doubt, remains unnoticed, in these few remarks, but interesting as this division of the subject is, we doubt not that it will be surpassed by the New Testament division given this month, and on which we hope to make a few closing remarks in our next and last number.