Biblical definition of Joy:
Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my defence; He has become my salvation.” v3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Character Study:
Ruth – Ruth 1:1-4:22; Matthew 1:5
She was a Moabitess, that is a Gentile, who was hated by Jews because they worshiped foreign gods and were therefore unclean. Her mother-in-law Naomi was an Ephrathite from Bethlehem.
She married Boaz, Naomi’s closest relative and became an ancestor of both David and Jesus.(Matthew 1:5-6)
Ruth is known for her:
Loyalty
In Ruth 1:4-18 Naomi’s husband and her 2 sons died. She had heard that the LORD had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them in Judah. Ruth gives up her own country, people and gods to follow Naomi, her mother-in-law, back to Israel. Naomi encourages her to go back to her people. Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.v17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Diligence
In Ruth 2:1-3 she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. She picked up the left over grain for herself and her mother-in-law.
Love for her mother-in-law
Ruth 2:4-15 Ruth showed great love towards her mother-in-law. She cared and provided for Naomi to such an extent that it was well-known throughout the town.
Obedience
Ruth 3:1-5 Ruth followed Naomi’s advice in everything she told her to do. Naomi told Ruth to go and lie down at Boaz’s feet. It should be noted that it was in accordance with Israelite custom and law. It was common for a servant to lay at the feet of his/her master and even share a part of his covering. By observing this custom, Ruth would inform Boaz that he could be her family redeemer – that he could find someone to marry her or marry her himself. It was family business, nothing romantic. But the story later became beautifully romantic as Ruth and Boaz developed an unselfish love and deep respect for each other. (LASB)
What the Bible teaches about joy:
Old Testament:
Ezra 6:19-22 The Israelites who had returned from the exile rebuilt the Temple. After they had completed it, they celebrated the Passover. The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. They ate the Passover lamb, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbours in order to seek the LORD, the God of Israel. They celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy.
Nehemiah 8:7-18 After the rebuilding of the Wall of Jerusalem, the Israelites settled in their own towns. All the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They requested that Ezra the priest would bring out the Book of the Law of Moses and read to them what the LORD had commanded for Israel. On completion of the reading, in v10 Nehemiah encourages the people to go and celebrate and give gifts to those in need. They were not to be dejected because, the “Joy of the LORD was their strength.”
Psalm 100:1-5 This Psalm is an invitation to enter joyfully into God’s presence. It is also a Psalm of thanksgiving.
Isaiah 55:1-13 This chapter is an invitation to the LORD’S salvation. Verses 1, 2 and 6 tell us how to get free nourishment that feeds our soul from the LORD. All we have to do is to: Come, Listen and Seek the LORD while He may be found. Verses 8-11 tell us that the LORD’S thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways not our ways. Just as God’s Word goes out from His mouth, it will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires. v12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Jeremiah 31:1-14 This passage is a promise to all the families of Israel, not only the tribe of Judah. It also includes all people who trust in God.
New Testament:
Luke 2:8-15 This passage tells us that after the birth of Jesus, an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. The shepherds were terrified, but the angel reassures them to not be afraid, because he is bringing them “news of great joy” about the birth of Jesus who is Christ the Lord.
John 15:1-11 Jesus teaches about the vine and the branches. Jesus is the true vine, God is the gardener and the followers of Jesus are the branches. True believers will be fruitful branches – these branches are cut back to promote growth. God sometimes needs to discipline us to strengthen our character and faith. Those “branches” who do not bear fruit will be v6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. A true believer’s privilege is that if they remain in Christ and His words remain in them, they may ask whatever they wish and it will be given to them. v11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Romans 15:1-13 In this passage Paul encourages believers not to just read the Bible but to also study it. In this way we have confidence that God’s will is the best for us.
He continues to write that we are to accept one another. Four times he mentions “Gentiles.”
2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 18:49 David wrote that he would praise the Lord among the Gentiles.
Deuteronomy 32:43 Gentiles are to rejoice with the Jewish people.
Psalm 117:1 They must praise the Lord.
Isaiah 11:10 They will hope in Him. (see Septuagint)
Philippians 4:2-9 Words of Encouragement: Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the Philippians. We see in: “v4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Paul knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him.
James 1:2-18 Trials and temptations: James tells us that “when” we have troubles, we are to: “v2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, v3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.“
Application:
As Christians joy should be part of our daily life. This is not always easy because there are times when it is difficult to show joy. There are times when the troubles in our circumstances or situations, “drag” us down.
At those times, when we experience joylessness we can read:
1 Kings 18:16 – 19:9 The encounter of Elijah who had just defeated 450 prophets of Baal with fire called down from heaven. He became fearful and fled into the desert when Jezebel threatened to kill him. He then asks God to take his life. vv9b -18 The Lord appears to Elijah.
Proverbs 17:22a When you have joy in your heart, you can encourage others, be enthusiastic about your tasks, and you are also able to be positive about what the future holds.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 It is not always easy to be joyful, to pray and give thanks when it feels as if our circumstances or situations are out of control. The plus side of this is that when we are obedient and allow God’s will in our lives, we will find it easier to be joyful, to pray and to be thankful.
In Philippians 4:4-8 Paul tells us to “rejoice” because the Lord is near. We can bring all our anxieties to God and He will give us “peace that surpasses all understanding.” Lastly, we need to keep our minds focused on the good things of God.
Conclusion:
Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 67:1-7 – Spreading the Gospel about Jesus will bring joy all over the world.
When we make it our daily prayer to pray or intercede for people such as missionaries, believers in countries where they are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus or you and me spreading the Gospel, we can say with the Psalmist: v4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.
There are times when our trials and tribulations seem to engulf our lives. We cannot see anything to be joyful about. Those are the times we can “remember” Luke 6:23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”
Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: