THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
Part 3b

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart"
(Jeremiah 15:16).

We continue to discover the ways God wants us to show our joy.

4. SHOUT FOR JOY

We are not only to be joyful in our hearts, but to SHOUT for joy.

Psalm 5:11: "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." Have you ever shouted for joy?

Psalm 32:11: "Be glad (samach) in the LORD, and rejoice (giyl), ye righteous; and SHOUT FOR JOY (ranan), all ye that are upright in heart." God wants us to be so filled with joy that He uses three different words for joy in this Scripture.

Psalm 132:9, 16: "Her saints shall SHOUT ALOUD FOR JOY." Further Scriptures to read with the word ranan: Psalm 35:27; 51:14;5 9:16; 67:4; 71:23; 81:1; and Isaiah 12:6.

5. SPLIT THE EARS WITH SOUND

Psalm 95:1, 2: "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." The phrase "a joyful noise" is the Hebrew word ruwa and means "to split the ears with sound, shout for joy, triumph."

Psalm 7:1: "Shout unto God with the voice of triumph." (Psalm 66:1; 81:1; 98:4, 6; and 100:1).

How do you sing at your church? With every bit of breath in your lungs? Are our praises worthy of the majesty of our great God?

This same word is used in the story of the walls of Jericho falling down. Joshua 6:16 "And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout (ruwa); for the LORD hath given you the city." The shout of joy and faith brings deliverance.

6. BREAK INTO JOYFUL SOUND

Psalm 98:4: "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."

The words "loud noise" come from the Hebrew word patsach and mean "to break out into joyful sound, break forth into joy, make a loud noise." There are times when we don't feel joyful. We don't feel like praising God. But we dare not live by our feelings. We must stir up our soul and BREAK FORTH into praise. We must DO IT, whether we feel like or not. But as we break forth, the joy comes.

7. EXCEEDINGLY REJOICE

Psalm 68:3: "Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice."

To "exceedingly rejoice" is simchah and means "to exceedingly rejoice with glee and gladness."

This word was used after the people of Judah had listened to Ezra read to them from "the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel." Nehemiah 8:12 states: "And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink . . . and to make great mirth (simchah), because they had understood the words that were declared unto them."

Does your spirit rejoice when you receive revelation and understanding from God's living Word? I can't think of anything more wonderful. I am reminded of the two disciples walking to Emmaus, sad and crestfallen because they thought Jesus was dead. They did not know it was Jesus who came alongside them and talked to them along the way. But after they realized it was Him, they said: "Did not our heart BURN within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24:32).

It's also used in Nehemiah 12:43 when they dedicated the wall of Jerusalem: "Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced (samach): for God had made them rejoice (samach) with great joy (simchah): the wives also and the children rejoiced (samach): so that the joy (simchah-exceeding joy) of Jerusalem was HEARD EVEN AFAR OFF."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Dear Father God, I thank You for Your precious Word which is life-giving and powerful. It is the rejoicing of my heart. Help me to always joy in Your Word. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I will forget my reputation and be more exuberant in my joy. My joy for God. My joy for His Word. My joy for my family. And my joy for each new day.