Where is the joy?

Joy is one of the defining characteristics of the Christian life, yet, sometimes I feel as though it is somewhat lacking in most of our lives. Yes, we are generally happy people, but we are often happy enough when we go to party and go out with our friends, or we are happy when we can get together with them and talk about the latest things we have, or what we did on the weekend. Yet, while we have happiness in these areas of life, we lack the same joy when we get together as youth of the church to discuss God's holy Word.

Reading through the book of psalms, I was struck at how many times they speak of joy. And how often  joy is spoken of in the context of singing and praising God. 

Let me mention just a few:

Psalm 5:11 - But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. 

Psalm 16:11 - You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 21:1 - The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD; And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Psalm 27:1 - And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

Psalm 32:11 - Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 33:3 - Sing to Him a new song; Play skilfully with a shout of joy. 

Psalm 35:9 - And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; It shall rejoice in His salvation. 

Psalm 35:27 - Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favour my righteous cause; And let them say continually, 'Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.' 

Psalm 43:4 - Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. 

Psalm 48:2 - Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. 

Psalm 51:8 - Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. 

Psalm 51:12 - Restore to me the joy of salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 

Psalm 63:5 - My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 

Psalm 65:13 - The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing. 

Psalm 66:1-3 - Make a joyful shout to God all the earth! Sing out the honour of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 

Psalm 67:4 - Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. 

Psalm 81:1 - Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. 

Psalm 89:15 - Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. 

Psalm 95:1 - Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 

Psalm 96:12 - Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD.

Psalm 98:4 - Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Psalm 98:8 - With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 

Psalm 100:1-2 - May a joyful shout the the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness, come before His presence with singing.  

Psalm 105:43 - He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness. 

Psalm 106:1 - Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

Psalm 122:1 - [The Joy of Going to the House of the LORD] - I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."

Psalm 132:9 - Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints shout for joy. 

Psalm 132:16 - I will also clothe her priests with salvation, And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 

Psalm 137:6 - If I do not remember You, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth - If I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy. 

Psalm 149:2 - Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 

Psalm 149:5 - Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 

Well that was more than just a few, but I'm sure you get the picture (and well done if you read all of them). In any case, these texts highlight what a joy it is to be called children of God. They speak of the joy these children have when they can come together and worship together. They speak of shouting and singing for joy because the Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever. 

We also have every reason to be joyful. God has taken us out of darkness and brought us into His marvelous light. We are able to have communion with Him, through Jesus Christ, and we are also able to have communion with fellow believers. Shouldn't that be cause enough for joy when we come together to worship or discuss His Word. 

He, the Almighty King of kings and Lord of lords, has chosen, you, and me, to be His special children (heirs with Christ - Romans 8). If we then believe this and take it to heart, let our lives be filled with joy, let it overflow like a fountain, that others may see the joy in us and be drawn to that source of Joy. 

So let us PRAISE THE LORD!

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in His sanctuary; 

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

Praise Him for His mighty acts; 

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; 

Praise him with the lute and harp!

Praise him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD!  (Psalm 150)