JOY IN CHRIST = STRENGTH

"The joy of the LORD is your strength." -Nehemiah 8:10 [KJV]

This is a precious, evangelical chapter. Glorious gospel truths are here held forth to us. Lord, help us to see them, and feed upon them. Here is, (1st.) a solemn observation of the feast of tabernacles. This was appointed by the wisdom of God the Father, (Leviticus 23:34.) Did God solemnly command the people to dwell in booths for eight days, but to some glorious end? Christ is the substance of the whole law: here is a shadow of Him. Here is typified, God’s beloved Son, Who was to tabernacle in our flesh, and all the Father’s glory to dwell in Him. 

(2d.) “The people gathered together as one man.” So, “Unto Shiloh, the Messiah, shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10.) (3d.) Ezra the priest reads and expounds to them the law, in the open street: (much such another crime as field preaching) the people were convinced of sin, and wept. The law ministers death and condemnation to them. Here is the office of the Holy Ghost, in convincing of sin, and comforting them by faith. 

(4th.) Ezra preaches the gospel to them, and says, “Weep not—neither be ye sorry.” No! not when their hearts were wounded by sin; the terrors of a broken law fell upon them; and when they saw justice armed with vengeance to destroy them? No: for, says he, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” How so? A glorious ray of Christ’s rich love, and marvellous grace to sinners, beam forth here. See what is the joy of the Lord. Our precious Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, “For the joy that was set before Him, (of saving us miserable sinners) endured the cross, despising the shame,” (Hebrews 12:2.) 

Look unto Jesus. Meditate on this joy of your Lord. Though He was to suffer the most excruciating pains and agonies on the cross— be exposed to public shame and infamy as a malefactor, hanging naked; yet such was His joy in saving His dear people from hell, to be glorified with Him eternally in heaven, that He patiently endured all, and cheerfully despised all this. O! such love, such grace, such joy, never dwelt but in the heart of an incarnate God! Sinner, this joy of the Lord is your strength and mine; the faith of this creates the highest joy in our souls: and this joy inspires our hearts with strength and courage against all our enemies. For we are more than conquerors, through Christ Who loved us, and had such joy in saving us. 

O to think I am a poor, weak, and vile sinner from day to day—surrounded by the most subtle and powerful foes, is enough to make our hearts faint, our knees feeble, and our hands hang down. But, O the joy, the strength it inspires the soul to know, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty.” Zepheniah 3:17. 

 

The joy which cometh from the Lord, 

Our daily strength shall be: 

It’s reap’d by faith in His good word, 

Who hung upon the tree.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRIST OUR ONLY AND PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS

" The flesh lusteth against the Spirit." —Galatians 5:17 [KJV] Christian experience fully proves this apostolic truth. Hence the children of God cannot do the things that they would: nor have we any authority from God's word to conclude this lusting ever ceased in any of the saints till they got to glory; none are delivered from it while in the flesh. For, as the renewed soul or spirit loves to enjoy spiritual and heavenly objects, so the flesh, or unrenewed part, lusts after those objects it is naturally conversant with, and from which it derives its happiness.  Here is thy conflict, O Christian. Hence the necessity of thy Lord's command, "Watch always." This is the use of the doctrine. What woeful effects have fulfilling the lusts or desires of the flesh produced in eminent saints! Thou standest by faith, be not high-minded, but fear. The conceptions of lust are the productions of sin.— see James 1:15 . The commission of sin contracts fresh s
Read more

Encouragement in Christ JESUS ~ 04 October, 2023 A.D.

" All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient." —I Corinthians 6:12 [KJV] The constraints of love and jealousy of fear sweetly unite in the believing heart. Where the faith of Jesus prevails, love constrains. It holds and keeps us in our station and duty, as soldiers are kept together under a banner or ensign displayed. What cheerfulness and activity of soul do we experience, when we can say with the church in the Canticles (Songs of Solomon), ch. 2, vs4. "Jesus' banner over me was love!" Then how sweetly do we judge and determine our conduct by the law of Christ, which is LOVE!  This excites a godly fear lest we should allow ourselves a latitude in things in themselves indifferent, to the wounding and hurt of our souls or our fellow-soldiers. Though all things of an indifferent nature, which are innocent in themselves, are lawful to us; yet the cause and interest of our dear Saviour, and the good and edifying of His beloved memb
Read more

JESUS - Rock of Ages

Jesus remains the same in all ages. He is the One who is constant when everything and everyone else fails. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is our R ock [I SAMUEL 2:2 ] . In the Old Testament, in Exodus 33, Jesus is pictured as the Cleft Rock. In that chapter, verse 18 and following, Moses desired to see the glory of the Lord, but was told, "You cannot see My face; for there shall no man see My face and live.” And the Lord said, “There is a place by Me, and you shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by." Notice that as Moses stood upon the rock, the Lord hid him in the cleft. This wonderfully applies to us today! Believers are both standing on and hidden in Christ [COLOSSIANS 3:3 ] . We are both in and on the Rock. As life with its many bitter events presses upon us,
Read more