Focus: Joyful People

Text: Ps.149:2

"Let Israel rejoice IN him."

Our God is a joyful God and He calls on us to be joyful too - to share in His joy. The psalmist calls on us to rejoice in our God. Joy is found only in God. He is the source, sustainer and supplier of our joy. God frowns at us not serving Him with joy. Moses says, "Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things" (Dt.28:47). Our lives as God's people are designed to bubble and brim over with infinite joy. The psalmist says, "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing" (Ps.100:2).

God established seven feasts for His people, and declares, "Ye shall rejoice BEFORE the LORD your God seven days" (Lev.23:40). Our text demands of us to rejoice IN the Lord, and here we are required to rejoice BEFORE the Lord our God. 

God is the sphere in which our joy flows and overflows, and it is in His presence that we are called upon to exude joy.

Moses declares, "And ye shall rejoice BEFORE the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates…" (Dt.12:12). Hannah sings, "My heart rejoiceth IN the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice IN thy salvation" (1Sam.2:1). David sings, "Glory ye IN his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD" (1Chron.16:10). The psalmist says, "I will be glad and rejoice IN thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High" (Ps.9:2). Solomon prays, "Let thy saints rejoice IN goodness" (2Chron.6:41). Yes, we rejoice in the Lord's goodness! 

"I will rejoice IN thy salvation… My heart shall rejoice IN thy salvation… We will rejoice IN thy salvation, and IN the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions… I will be glad and rejoice IN thy mercy… Be glad IN the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart… For our heart shall rejoice IN him, because we have trusted IN his holy name…And my soul shall be joyful IN the LORD: it shall rejoice IN his salvation… Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad IN thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified… Because thou hast been my help, therefore IN the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice… But the king shall rejoice IN God…" (Ps.9:14; 13:5; 20:5; 31:7; 32:11; 33:21; 35:9; 40:16; 63:7). 

We rejoice in the Lord, in His salvation, in His mercy, in His goodness, and under His wings.

Again we read, "Let Israel rejoice IN him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful IN their King… The meek also shall increase their joy IN the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice IN the Holy One of Israel… Thou shalt rejoice IN the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel… I will greatly rejoice IN the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels… But be ye glad and rejoice for ever IN that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy… Yet I will rejoice IN the LORD, I will joy IN the God of my salvation" (Ps.149:2; Isa.29:19; 41:16; 61:10; 65:18; Hab.3:18).

After Jehoshaphat and his people of Judah returned from battle victorious, we read, "For the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies" (2Chron.20:27). 

We rejoice in the goodness of our God, and we also rejoice over our enemies. He makes us victorious in battle.

The psalmist declares, "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice BEFORE God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice" (Ps.68:3). He says, "I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil" (Ps.119:162). The word of God saturates our hearts with joy.

The Lord urges us, "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell IN the midst of thee, saith the LORD" (Zech.2:10). Paul writes, "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord… For we are the circumcision, which worship God IN the spirit, and rejoice IN Christ Jesus, and have no confidence IN the flesh… Rejoice IN the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil.3:1,3; 4:4). 

The psalmist says, "I have rejoiced IN the way of thy testimonies, as much as IN all riches" (Ps.119:14). In Luke we read, "And my spirit hath rejoiced IN God my Saviour… All the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him" (Lk.1:47; 13:17). Paul says, "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly…" (Phil.4:10). John writes, "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is IN thee, even as thou walkest IN the truth" (3Jh.1:3). 

We are the people of joy. We are distinguished by the joy of the Lord. We rejoice in our God. We rejoice for all the things He has done for us, for all He is doing in us, with us, through us and for us, and for the future joy that awaits us. People of joy, let us rejoice! Let's activate His joy in us. He is the one who gives us joy; we are the ones who should rejoice in Him. As He lets His joy flow into us, we should let it flow through us to others. We are the joyful people of God on earth.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter