Meditations on The Fruit of the Spirit - Joy

This is the second in a series of articles I’m writing in connection with a Women’s Bible Study I’m hosting.  We are studying the fruit of the Spirit and the second class is about Joy.  I’ve titled the articles “Meditations” because in my preparation, I find there is so much to take in, so much attention given to these qualities throughout the Bible, that the best way to sort through the information is to take a step back and consider and reflect. 

In studying “love,” I became newly convicted of how God’s steadfast love is found in the entire Bible story. When it was time to prepare for the second class, addressing joy, the first step I took was methodical; I simply did a word search in my Bible app. The word “joy” is found 180 times in the Bible, and “rejoice” is found 156 times!  While I know that the message of our salvation is a joyous one - it surprised me a little to realize that the Bible is a book of joy throughout its pages. We know it’s a book of history, and law, and doctrine, so where does joy fit in? To understand better, I started reading the verses that used the word joy, looking for the context, things like what brought joy and where joy was found.

In the books of history, there was joy when God’s plans and intentions were fulfilled.  The people rejoiced when David was anointed king, when God gave them deliverance from their enemies, when the Ark of the Covenant returned to Jerusalem, and when, after years of captivity, the new Temple was dedicated and the law read aloud: “And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful” (Ezra 6:22).

In the wisdom literature, the authors find joy in God’s inherent qualities - His wisdom, power, love, and righteousness.  Comfort and joy are found in His presence, His testimonies, His promises, His purpose for man: “But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God;

they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3).

In the writings of the Prophets, though a dark time in Israel’s history and fraught with suffering, joy is found in the knowledge that God remains powerful and true to His covenant, in a future restoration of God’s broken kingdom and a promised return to Jerusalem, and in a light that will overcome the darkness -  the chosen one who will unite all nations:  “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11).

 In the gospels, there was joy in heaven and on earth the night the Christ was born:  “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke  2:10-11). While Jesus is called a “Man of sorrow,” He tells His apostles that they will experience sorrow at His death, but their sorrow will turn to joy (John 16:20).  This joy is first experienced by the women who came to honor His body at the tomb and found it empty: “He is not here, He is risen, as He said” (Matt 28:6).

In the New Testament letters, the inspired authors speak of joy in our salvation.  But much of the focus of joy is in our relationship with each other, in shared faith, steadfastness, and hope. Paul tells the Corinthians, “I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy” (2 Cor. 7:4).

At the end of this simple exercise, a cursory look at “joy” and quick reading of Bible verses -  something happened. I felt a lightening of my mind and heart. Cares and worries seemed dwarfed by the all-powerful God we serve.  The future is secure; the present has meaning. There is cause to praise God and rejoice everywhere I look.  

Now, I see how joy is a fruit of the Spirit - an outcome, a product.  Joy found in God - His wisdom, His words, His plans - has no limits because God has no bounds.  However, this joy has nothing to do with OUR personal wants, dreams, possessions, talents, or desires.  It’s only when we surrender our own intentions to His that we find this level of contentment, satisfaction, hope, and joy. There is irony, but not contradiction in the Beatitudes - “blessed” or fortunate are the meek, the poor in spirit, those who mourn… 

Recognizing the positive effect of reading about joy in the scripture, I have started a “joy” journal to read, write, and meditate on verses that use the word joy.  I am inviting the Spirit to produce in me a heart of joy and confidence in God.

“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  The week I started writing this article, I also said goodbye to my 94 year old father.  He was a faithful disciple and, in fact, was in worship, communing with the saints three days before his passing.  Granted, waves of sadness rush over me now and then when I think that I won’t see him or hear from him anymore.  But they are soon replaced by feelings of relief, and yes, joy in my absolute belief that he is resting in Abraham’s bosom, freed from an aging body, a sinful world, and rejoicing through all eternity: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Hab 3:18).