“Rejoice in the Lord”
• Stand firm in the Lord 4:1
• Harmonize in the Lord 4:2-3
• Rejoice in the Lord 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Whenever something appears multiple times in the Bible, it is worth giving more attention.
This topic appears multiple times both in its noun form and verb form. Both Old Testament and New Testament terms are translated by such terms as English terms such as joy, rejoice, gladness, be glad, joyful, joyfulness.
The Greek terms appear at least 133 times in the New Testament. The Hebrew terms appear 246 times.
In addition to these, there are other synonyms referencing this positive emotion. Philippians references rejoicing and joy 15 times in just 4 short chapters.
Exploring nearly 380 passages containing our specific terms became an overwhelming task. That doesn’t include a study of terms related to the opposite emotions of sadness, grief, sorrow, crying, lamenting, etc. which also run heavily all through the Scriptures. Given the space occupied by joy and rejoicing in the Bible, it would be advantageous that we take some time to try to understand it better.
Let’s first look at the specific terms.
The Hebrew noun described the internal sense of glee, gladness, joy, mirth, pleasure.
The Hebrews verb referred to the expression of that inner condition meaning to “brighten up, cheer up, be glad, be joyful, make merry, rejoice.
The Greek noun is similar describing the state of joy, cheerfulness, delight, fullness translated commonly by the English terms gladness and joy. The Greek verb again refers to the external expression of the inner condition.
It is translated by our English word “rejoice” also “be glad”.
Joy is nearly always triggered by some positive event, relationship or experience. That would probably be true concerning the opposite emotion as well. Our responses depend on our perception of the event, experience or relationship. A positive thought or memory may also trigger joy and inspire rejoicing.
Rain in the Pacific Northwest rarely elicits joy or rejoicing.
Rain in the Sahara Desert bring quite the opposite effect.
The response to a snow depends on many possible variables.
Our response to a surprise visit depends on the visitor or the circumstance.
Our response to flashing blue lights depends on the circumstance.
What may cause grief to one, may trigger joy for others. On occasion, you might even experience both emotions simultaneously.
Paul instructed these Philippians to rejoice in the Lord. Like I said before, Paul referenced joy or rejoicing 15 times in his letter.
In a negative circumstance, Paul determined to rejoice.
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, Philippians 1:18
When facing possible death.
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me. 2:17-18
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, Philippians 1:3-4
Convinced of this (further ministry opportunities), I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith… 1:25
make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 2:2
Therefore I have sent Epaphroditus all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard…2:28-29
My beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord. 4:1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. 3:1
In chapter 4, Paul doubled down.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 4:4
He didn’t command them to rejoice out of a vacuum. He instructed them to rejoice IN THE LORD. Rejoice in the context of your identity with the God of the universe. Our connection with the source of all joy stands at the heart of our joy which ought to inspire an external response noticeable to all.
I broke the references down into several categories. Each reference comes with a rich context deserving exploration and meditation. I have categorized a good representative of those references for your further study.
The list is extensive but NOT exhaustive. (Not all 380 references) I urge you to take the time take the time to do your own investigation.
• Clear commands to rejoice
• Personal testimonies of rejoicing
• Joy and rejoicing “triggers” or reasons for rejoicing.
• Source of joy and rejoicing
• Prayer for joy
Just as in real life, the expression of our joy various from person to person or culture to culture.
Singing, thanksgiving, music, singing, dancing, shouting, feasting, celebrating, corporate worship, prayer, praise, laughing, clapping, even crying are examples of joy expressed.
Clear commands to rejoice
The command to rejoice and get any clearer than our present passage.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
God commanded the Jews to practice a yearly weeklong period of rejoicing.
'Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Lev 23:40
We began the service with commands from the Scripture to rejoice. There were calls for people to rejoice, nations to rejoice, household to rejoice even nature to rejoice. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice. That all who seek God rejoice and be glad. Let the righteous be glad to let them exult before God, yes let them rejoice with gladness. Sing for joy in the Lord. Shout to God with the voice of joy. Come let us sing for joy to the Lord.
There is even a passing call the godly ones to rejoice on their beds.
Given the number of commands to rejoice caused me to wonder about whether joy and rejoicing is limited to an involuntary emotion base on a positive event. Similar to the command to love as an act of the will, perhaps the command to rejoice could also be an act of the will. Several passages in the Psalms indicate a decision to be glad in the Lord as an act of the will. This study did cause me to realize a severe lack of joy and rejoicing in my every day experience. In light of the difficult times in which we live in the abundance of tragic news, there does not seem to be much cause for joy and rejoicing. It is clear however that rejoicing should be the regular practice of those who follow Jesus. There is one sobering passage that speaks of the consequences of serving God without joy; at least for the Israelites.
"Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you. Deuteronomy 28:47-48
Stirring testimonies and examples of rejoicing.
Many of the Psalms are declarations of a glad heart. Given the fact that joy is a key component in the kingdom of God one would expect that it would be an attribute of God as well.
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
God brought forth his people with joy, his chosen ones with the joyful shout.
Zephaniah provides an interesting insight into the heart of God.
"The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Zephaniah 3:17
Jesus spoke of his joy even in the face of his pending crucifixion. Nehemiah declared that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Joy and rejoicing triggers (Reasons)
• Rejoice in God Himself
Even without specific passages, one would easily conclude that God would be the number one trigger for joy.
The fact is there are numerous passages declaring such.
You will increase their gladness; they will be glad in your presence is with the gladness of harvest as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
In your presence is fullness of joy. I will go to the altar of God to God my exceeding joy. In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Cry aloud and shout for joy for great in your midst is the holy one of Israel. Shout for joy be glad for I am coming and I will dwell in your midst.
The disciples rejoice when they saw the Lord. After worshiping him the disciples return to Jerusalem with great joy. Jesus said they would see him again in their heart would rejoice and no one could take their joy from them.
• Rejoice in God’s salvation
This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Many people quote this verse in reference to each new day. The context of this verse however clearly points to a specific day. It is the day of our salvation in Christ Jesus. When the Gentiles understood that God had included them in his salvation plan, the began rejoicing and glorifying the word of God. Paul prayed that we would joyously give thanks to the father who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the same in light.
• Rejoice at the salvation of the lost
Jesus said that there was joy in the presence of the Angels over one sinner who repents. There was much rejoicing in Samaria when they turn to Jesus. It was great joy to all the brethren at the conversion of the Gentiles.
• Rejoice over God’s sovereignty
• Rejoice in the glorification of Jesus
• Rejoice in God’s works
For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:4
As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him. Luke 13:17
"There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you. And you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given you and your household. Deuteronomy 26:11
• Rejoice in the victory over our enemy
The 70 followers of Jesus returned from a mission trip rejoicing over the fact that even the demons had to bow to their authority. Jesus straightened their priorities however my calling them to find greater joy in their personal salvation.
• Rejoice in God’s word
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. Your word is the joy of my heart. Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. Jesus told his disciples that the words he spoke to them were so that he is joy would be in them and that there joy be made complete.
• Rejoice at his judgments
The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy for he will judge the peoples with uprightness. The trees of the forest will sing for joy for he is coming to judge the earth. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice
• Rejoice to enter God’s house
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." Psalm 122:1
Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer…For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." Isaiah 56:7
• Rejoice at the generous giving to a great cause
Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 29:9
• Rejoice at the restoration of worship and revival
God brought about a revival during Hezekiah’s time. The passage says that the people rejoiced, all the assembly rejoice, foreigners rejoice, there was great joy in Jerusalem because there was nothing like this since the days of Solomon.
• Rejoice at future reward or benefit
This is a very critical aspect of rejoicing. Without dispute, not everything in life triggers a joyful response and yet Scripture calls us to rejoice and consider it all joy when we encounter in tribulation and even persecution.
The key lies in the realization of future benefit from the present difficulty. Rejoice and be glad for your reward in heaven is great. They joyfully accepted seizure of the property knowing there was a better and lasting possession. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance and ultimately completeness. Moses considered reproach greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Paul was able to rejoice in difficulty because he looked to a benefit for the kingdom.
• Rejoice for the privilege of suffering for Jesus
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 1 Peter 4:13
• Rejoice in answer to prayer
"Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. John 16:24
• Rejoicing meaningful relationship
Most of these verses are expression of Paul’s love for those to which he ministered.
Don’t skip over this section. I’m not sure the key, but Paul found great joy in his relationship with people.
That was not true for everyone along the way but was true even for those she had to chastise.
For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your (Philemon) love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 1:7
The tough question of this. Do we have people in our life with that kind of influence? Do we have that kind of influence on other people? Are we joy-givers or joy-robbers?
• Rejoice in the spiritual growth of others
For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Colossians 2:5
make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Phil 2:2
Even though Paul’s discipline of the Corinthians brought sorrow he rejoice that it resulted in repentance.
I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4
• Rejoice in the wife of your youth
• Rejoice and godly children
• Rejoice because of encouraging words
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25
A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23
Source of Joy
• The Trinity grants joy
God is the ultimate source of joy. The Lord caused them to rejoice. Jude prayed to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory blameless with great joy…
The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God is joy in the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is joy. The Thessalonians became imitators of the Lord in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said be of good cheer I have overcome the world. Jesus talked about his joy being in them.
• Trust in God accesses joy
Romans 15 provides a clarifying passage regarding joy.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
God clearly grants us the joy but the means to that provision is faith.
• The prayer of others brings joy
• The witness and encouragement of other people triggers joy
Convinced of this, I (Paul) know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, Philippians 1:25
May those who fear You see me and be glad, Because I wait for Your word. Psalm 119:74
Prayer for joy
There are passages that flat-out pray for joy.
Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Psalm 51:8
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12
Make glad the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. Psalm 86:4
There is a time for sorrow and repenting. There is a time for singing and rejoicing.
His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
After the people restored the wall of Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah, all the people gathered as one man inside the wall where Ezra the priest stood up and read the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel. He read from early morning until midday and the people were attentive to the book of the law. Nehemiah wrote that all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” While lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worship the Lord with their faces to the ground. Other teachers explain the law to the people translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. The reading of the word deeply moved the people of God and they were weeping. Nehemiah then stood up and said to the people…
"This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them. Nehemiah 8:9-12
Yes, there is a time for grieving but today is not that time. Today we celebrate our Lord for who He is and what He is done.
Today is a time to rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice!
REJOICE IN THE LORD!!
