This Month's Subject: The Joy of God's People in the O.T.

 •  7 min. read  •  grade level: 8
The causes and occasions of joy among God’s people given in the Old Testament.
DIVISION 1.
Everything that is stated to be a cause or a subject of joy to God’s people.
Section 1. —PRESENT JOY.
Deuteronomy 28:4747Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; (Deuteronomy 28:47). “Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.”
Psalms 5:1111But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (Psalm 5:11). “ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them; let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”
Psalms 28:77The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7). “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth.”
Psalms 63:77Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (Psalm 63:7). “ Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”
Psalms 119:1414I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. (Psalm 119:14). “ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches, ver. 111, 162.
Psalms 126:66He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:6). “ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Proverbs 27:99Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. (Proverbs 27:9). “ Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1313And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:13). “That every man should.... enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.” 5:18-20; 9:7.
Section 2. —FUTURE JOY.
Psalms 48:1111Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. (Psalm 48:11). “ Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.”
Isaiah 29:59 “ The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah 51:1111Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. (Isaiah 51:11). “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion: and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy.”
Isaiah 56:6, 17. “Also the sons of the stranger.... will I bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer.”
Joel 2:2121Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things. (Joel 2:21). “ Be glad and rejoice; for the Lord will do great things.”
Joel. 2:23. “ Be glad then ye children of Zion and rejoice in the Lord your God.”
Ephesians 3:14, 1514For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:14‑15) “ Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord bath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy, the king of Israel, even the Lord is in the midst of thee, thou shalt not see evil anymore.”
Zechariah 2:1010Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. (Zechariah 2:10). Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.”
Zechariah 10:77And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord. (Zechariah 10:7). And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.”
DIVISION 2.
Every distinct occasion when a child of God rejoiced.
Exodus 15:1-191Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. 4Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 18The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. 19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. (Exodus 15:1‑19). The children of Israel at their deliverance from Egypt, Psalms 66:6; 105:436He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him. (Psalm 66:6)
43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness: (Psalm 105:43).
2 Samuel 22. David for deliverance from his enemies and from Saul.
2 Chronicles 30:2525And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. (2 Chronicles 30:25). “And all the congregation of Judah, with the priest’s and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah rejoiced. So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there was not the like in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 12:27-4327And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps. 28And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi; 29Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. 30And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: 32And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, 33And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph: 36And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 37And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward. 38And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall; 39And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate. 40So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 42And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. (Nehemiah 12:27‑43). When the wall of Jerusalem was dedicated.