You want joy? – Read the Word

Psalms 19:8 - The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

 

David’s crescendo of God’s law reaches yet another superlative  God’s Word is right, always right and it give joy

 

It seems that David has no lack of narratives when it comes to verbalising God’s Word. The law is perfect, its trustworthy and now “right”. God’s Word is never wrong.

 

The word “right” translated here also means just, equitable and upright. 


Psalm 33:4 -  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

 

In today’s world there is always the clamour for relativism, especially from the community that is progressive and leaning very much to the left. There are no absolutes, they say, only what you think is right matters. Obviously a self-defeating statement.

 

For us, Christians, God’s Word is our moral compass. God’s moral law does not change and they are right.

 

That means God’s word is our standard by which we should order our lives, our conversations and all our affairs. It is not the church that sets the standards, its certainly not even the standards of the word and its is not what I think that sets the standards, But the scriptures. Hence any word, thought or deed that contradicts God’s Word are certainly to be avoided. We should all take our dressing from God’s Word at any cost. Anything else will be a compromise and a failure. The Bile promises a host of blessings to those who keep the law as their standard.

 

Joshua 1:8 - Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

 

We have seen a few of the blessings in the earlier devotions and here, we are assured of joy in our hearts. What is joy in the Bible? Biblical joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction, because we know that God will use these experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives. This joy may not be seen in the external but very much resident in the inner recess of a true worshipper. It’s is not dependant on one’s emotion or predicament or even temperament. It’s independent of the environment, even it desperate trying situations. That’s why James says:

 

James 1:2-3 - Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

 

Joy in trouble? Possible when God’s Word is my right standard and foundation.

How true is it than when a person is rooted in God’s Word no matter what the circumstances can be, that person will have the joy of the Lord in his heart. 

 

Because a proper understanding and grounding in God’s word will help us to totally reply on Him, knowing that all things work out for our good; that God is in control and no good thing will He withhold from me. 

 

May the joy of the Lord, that comes from obeying His Word, be our strength.

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