Joy To The World! The Savior(LORD) Has Come!
What a great CHRISTmas song, but
why do we only sing it at CHRISTmas? This is a great worship song any time of
year!
“Joy to the world! JEHOVAH (The LORD)
is come”
Yes, Joy and Peace were proclaimed
to the world by an angelic host at JESUS’ birth (Luke 2:10-14).
“In all things we are more than
Conquerors through Him (JESUS CHRIST) that Loved us.” (Romans 8:37) Oswald
Chambers said about this verse, “The reason we are more than Conquerors is we
have a Joy we would not have but for the very things which look as if they are
going to overwhelm us.”
The first time Joy is mentioned in
the scriptures in 1 Samuel 18:3 where the people are rejoicing because David
killed Goliath and the Israelites defeated the Philistines; “to meet King Saul
with tambourines, with Joy and with musical instruments.”. The second is 1
Kings 8:66 when Solomon’s Temple was completed, “the people when home Joyful
and Glad of heart…” In Numbers 36:8 in the KJV it says, “…that the Children of
Israel may Enjoy* every man the inheritance of his fathers.” In the NKJV it
says, “…so that the Children of Israel each may Possess the inheritance of his
fathers.” Speaking to the future of Israel, JEHOVAH said, “…Even them I will
bring to My Holy Mountain and make them Joyful in MY House of Prayer…” (Isaiah
56:7) JEHOVAH said, “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance and the young
men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning to Joy, will comfort
them and make them Rejoice rather than sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:13) JESUS said, “These
things I have spoken to you that My Joy may remain in you and that your Joy may
be full.” And “But now I come to You (JEHOVAH) and these things I speak in the
world that they (the disciples) may have My Joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John
15:11, 17:13)
Here are two of the controversial
verses on Joy: “My brethren, count it all Joy
when you fall into various trials…” (James 1:2-4) and “…but rejoice to
the extent that you partake of CHRIST’s suffering…you may also be Glad with
exceeding Joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
Lt’s conclude the subject of Joy with Nehemiah’s statement
to the returning Jews, “…do not sorrow for The Joy of JEHOVAH is your
strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)
“That they may know from the
rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me! I Am JEHOVAH,
and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make Peace and
create calamity, I, JEHOVAH, do all these things,” Isaiah 45:6-7
The first promise of Peace was to
Abram in Genesis 15:15 about his life and death. The next promise of Peace from
GOD is to the Children of Israel in Leviticus 26:6 (Numbers 6:26). The third
promise of Pease was to Phinehas in Numbers 25:11-13. Next came Gideon in
Judges 6:22-24 (JEHOVAH Shalom). So we see that GOD has promised Peace,
sometimes specifically and sometimes to all humanity.
Why did GOD not promise Peace
before Abram? Adam and Eve lived in Paradise before their sin and so they lost
Peace; Noah GOD made a Covenant with but did no promise Pease because He put
them in a perfect place with no adversaries. In Ephesians 2:14-18 Paul reminds
us that JESUS Proclaimed The Peace of GOD to all who believe. In Philippians
4:6-7 Paul reminds us the in CHRIST JESUS we have GOD’s Peace that passes
understanding. In Revelation 1:4 John speaks of GOD’s Grace and Peace to The
Church.
So in the two beginnings: creation
and the new earth after the flood Peace existed because there was no adversary.
It was not until Adam and Ham sinned that their Peace was lost, but GOD has
always planned for us to live in Peace and He continues to remind us that it is
His Peace that we need and get only through JESUS CHRIST! “Peace I leave with
you, My Peace; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Luke 14:27).
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