50.5 Longing For God, The Source Of Joy

Psalm 63

O God, you are my God, and I long for you.
My whole being desires you;
like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land,
my soul is thirsty for you.
Let me see you in the sanctuary;
let me see how mighty and glorious you are.
Your constant love is better than life itself,
and so I will praise you.
I will give you thanks as long as I live;
I will raise my hands to you in a prayer.
My soul will feast and be satisfied,
and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.

As I lie in bed, I remember you;
all night long I think of you,
because you have always been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
I cling to you,
and your hand keeps me safe.

Those who are trying to kill me
will go down into the world of the dead.
They will be killed in battle,
and their bodies eaten by wolves.
Because God gives him victory,
the king will rejoice.
Those who make promises in
God's name will praise him,
but the mouths of liars will be shut.

50.4 Rejoice In The Lord Always

Philippians 4:4-9

May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord.  I say it again: rejoice!

Show a gentle attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.  And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

In conclusion, my brothers, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.  Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.

50.3 Song Of Thanksgiving

Isaiah 12:1-6

A day is coming when people will sing,
"I praise you Lord!
You were angry with me, but now you comfort me
and are angry no longer.
God is my savior;
I will trust him and not be afraid.
The Lord gives me power and strength;
he is my savior.
As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty,
so God's people rejoice when he saves them."
A day is coming when people will sing,
"Give thanks to the Lord!
Call for him to help you!
Tell all the nations what he has done!
Tell them how great he is!
Sing to the Lord because of the great things
he has done.
Let the whole world hear the news.
Let everyone who lives in Zion shout and sing!
Israel's holy God is great,
and he lives among his people."

50.2 Joy Because of Deliverance

Isaiah 35:1-10

The desert will rejoice,
and flowers will bloom in the wastelands.
The desert will sing and shout for joy;
it will be as beautiful as the Lebanon Mountains
and as fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon.
Everyone will see the Lord's splendor,
see his greatness and power.

Give strength to hands that are tired
and to knees that tremble with weakness.
Tell everyone who is discouraged,
"Be strong and don't be afraid!
God is coming to your rescue,
coming to punish your enemies."

The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear.
The lame will leap and dance,
and those who cannot speak will shout for joy.
Streams of water will flow through the desert;
the burning sand will become a lake,
and dry land will be filled with springs.
Where jackals used to live,
marsh grass and reeds will grow.

There will be highway there,
called "The Road of Holiness."
No sinner will ever travel that road;
no fools will mislead those who follow it.
No lions will be there;
no fierce animals will pass that way.
Those whom the Lord has rescued
will travel home by that road.
They will reach Jerusalem with gladness,
singing and shouting for joy.
They will be happy forever,
forever free from sorrow and grief.

50.1 The Lord's Help Makes Us Joyful

Ezra 6:19-22

The people who had returned from exile celebrated Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month of the following year. All the priests and the Levites had purified themselves and were ritually clean.  The Levites killed the animals for the Passover sacrifices for all the people who had returned, for the priests, and for themselves.  The sacrifices were eaten by all the Israelites who had returned from exile and by all those who had given up the pagan ways of the other people who were living in the land and who had come to worship the Lord God of Israel.  For seven days they joyfully celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  They were full of joy because  the Lord had made the emperor of Asssyria favorable to them, so that he supported them in their work of rebuilding the Temple of the God of Israel.