JOY
As humans we can hardly help hoping for our unpleasant circumstances to change. But, God wants that we should focus our hope on hearing his spoken voice. This should be true for people who have not yet heard his spoken voice, and for people who have already heard it. People who have heard God’s voice receive joy in their hearts.
People who have heard God’s voice don’t just hope to hear it. True disciples/learners actually expect to hear God’s spoken voice and their expectations are fulfilled because it is a spiritual principle that the more they seek to hear God’s voice, the more they will hear God’s voice. And the more they hear God’s words, the more joy they have.
Disciples/learners devote themselves to study that results in hearing more of God’s voice for three reasons: First, God has commanded them to listen to his voice. Second, it gives them great joy to hear his words. Third, joy is completed when God’s words are shared with others.
There are many aspects to hearing God’s spoken voice, but it is not an overstatement to say that joy covers them all. In fact, it can be said that God’s spoken word can be equated with Joy. Consider these scriptures:
Nehemiah 8:10 Then Nehemiah told them,“Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet,and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
COMMENTARY: God’s spoken word is fruit of the tree of life. God’s words taste sweet like honey.
Sending out portions to those who have nothing prepared is symbolic language for speaking God’s words to people who cannot hear God’s voice.
God’s spoken word is symbolically represented as joy. In other words, God’s word is the source of strength/power for New Covenant disciples.
Deuteronomy 26:8-11 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders.
COMMENTARY: See Egypt, Babylon and Canaan as symbols of religion. Coming out of Egypt, therefore, represents coming out of religion. See Signs Wonders and Miracles for the kinds of signs and wonders that God performs.
9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;
COMMENTARY: The land, of course, is the promised land. Milk and honey is God’s way of describing good spiritual food.
10 and now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.” Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.
COMMENTARY: See Tithes.
11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household.
COMMENTARY: The one and only thing that God gives to his people is his spoken voice. His voice is the good thing that causes his people to rejoice. See this link and this link for the spiritual gifts/rewards that God gives to New Covenant disciples. These all bring joy to people who have God’s words written on their hearts.