The Invitation To Fine Joy

⁵ Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth. 
⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah brings a message of hope to a fallen nation; that has suffered the very depths of suffering.

The message reminds them of God’s faithful promise of provision and strength.

Probably a difficult message to comprehend in their personal devastation.

Isaiah is clear: God forgives, comforts, and offers strength.

God will bring to those who have experienced unbelievable turmoil and unjust treatment from the oppressive powers -- peace

God will bring infectious joy to their present hopelessness.

There is to be new possibilities to come.  

There is to be new hope for a better future.

The word I want to focus on is joy.

We will hear that little word many times in the next few weeks. So I decided to do a little study on what the Greek and Hebrew language actually meant when they used  the word joy.

I will paraphrase what I have read from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament.

God will adorn their lives with deep feelings of being cared for and protected….In a more common thinking joy in us creates a need to cheer with gladness — rejoice with great busts of gratitude….It is a supreme blessing that only comes from God; creating a harmony of the soul…..this joy within springs hope..…And denotes a gracious disposition that finds expression in gracious action. (p 1301)  

The point?

When we feel that the world is "going-to-hell-in hand basket" we need to listen to the Prophet's, of old, words about how God has always worked within his human souls; and the world around them as well.

God's truth is, there is always hope -- and the promise of joy -- in those who have lived in the deepest darkness.  

We hear that there is no darkness so dark that God's light cannot penetrate it.

The question?

Can we, today, hear the Prophet's predictions joy -- of fearing no more?

You see, there is a great divide between those who find joy in their messy world.   And those who who can not muster-up the energy to trust in God's promise of presence.

During this Advent Season Isaiah is powerfully entering the world situation, as we in 2021 know it. 

He is calling us -- inviting us -- to believe what we see as impossible.

He is telling us that God is bigger than what we see as reality.

⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

God is in the very deepest depths of this world's mess.

God is the the very deepest depths of each of our souls.

And, and His will will prevail.

² Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation. 

3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

⁴And you will say on that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
   call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
   proclaim that his name is exalted. 

⁵ Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
   let this be known in all the earth.
⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
   for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Is. 12)