The Advent of Christ: Then & Now-Joy Comes from the Lord

This time of year it’s hard to go anywhere without hearing Christmas music. One particular song I hear is Joy to the World. When I hear that song sung, it always reminds me of Three Dog Night’s version of that song. Jeremiah was a bullfrog…was a good friend of mine…there’s just something about that song that’s catchy. I had never really thought about the words to the song very much until I got curious a year or two ago. So, I looked up the lyrics. When I did, I was a little surprised to say the least when I read what they were actually saying. Let’s just say they weren’t talking about anything that the Christmas song says. It’s highly inappropriate. However, the song is still catchy and it’s a fun tune to sing. But more than that, it speaks volumes to what we take in on a daily basis…what we allow our eyes and ears to witness. The type of joy that Three Dog Night talks about is the type of joy of the world.

Today, obviously, we are talking about Joy. Sometimes the joy we think we need, we look for in the wrong places. If you would, turn with me to Nehemiah 8:2-12. Nehemiah is located between 2 Chronicles & Ezra and Esther, Job & Psalms. So go to 2 Chronicles and hang a right.

2 On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding. 3 While he was facing the square in front of the Water Gate, he read out of it from daybreak until noon before the men, the women, and those who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform made for this purpose. Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah stood beside him on his right; to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, " Amen, Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, who were Levites, explained the law to the people as they stood in their places. 8 They read the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read. 9 Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because your strength [comes from] rejoicing in the LORD." 11 And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve." 12 Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great celebration, because they had understood the words that were explained to them.


I am not sure why Ezra and Nehemiah were placed where they were in the Bible, but the time period in which they take place is in the 4th Century B.C. It is roughly 458 B.C. when Ezra is back in the Promised Land following the Babylonian Exile. Nehemiah follows about 14 years later, and this is where Nehemiah records this passage. This particular passage describes a time where The Law was to be read aloud before the people. Prior to the Exile, this did not happen, with the exception of a few times such as with Josiah.

Just for giggles, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar is Tishri which is around September/October for us. Tishri 1 is the Feast of Trumpets, Tishri 10 is the Day of Atonement, and Tishri 15-21 is the Feast of Tabernacles. The Law was read on Tishri 1.

The Israelites, fresh out of captivity, realized the importance of keeping God’s Law’s and commands. They realized the importance of hearing God’s word, adhering to the feasts, sacrifices and such. They had learned that the only joy that comes comes from the Lord. It comes from hearing God’s Law, applying it to their lives, living by the sacrifices, adhering to the feasts, learning from their past mistakes. They realized that the things that they were allowing to enter their eyes and ears were corrupting them.

Like them, we don’t even think about some of the things we deem to be ‘normal’ in our culture. The violence on TV, sexuality promoted everywhere to sell everything, even the lyrics to the songs we listen to. Now, I’m not saying that we have to be offended or drastically change a lifestyle to accommodate this; but lyrics in songs are the primary reason why we only listen to Christian Radio.

My girls love Alvin & the Chipmunks. Not just love, I mean LOVE…obsessed…they wore out the DVD from playing it so much. The first and second ones use popular songs, like they always have, and do it, Chipmunk style. In the second movie, they use one song in particular that is extremely inappropriate for a kid to sing. They had no idea what it was they were singing. When I asked them what the lyrics meant, they didn’t know. Still, the lyrics were ingrained in their head. Sherri and I now try to watch all movies before they do. I don’t want to shelter them from everything, but the issue is more along the lines of ‘normalizing’ certain behaviors and ideas. The more you see or hear something, the more ‘normal’ it becomes.

For example, I remember when I was a kid, the word homosexual was reserved for vile and disgusting behavior. It was lude, inappropriate and not something to be involved in. Over the years, as I got involved in theatre, I ran into men who were actually homosexual. As I was exposed to it, it became much more normal. These days, homosexuality is, unfortunately, a strong part of our culture. Not that it makes it right, but in the eyes of the public at large, it is ok. For those of us still in religious circles however, it is still taboo because God’s deems it as inappropriate behavior. The world has normalized something God says is wrong.

Friends, this is exactly….EXACTLY what happened to the Israelites. They didn’t just start out one day saying they were going to pursue other gods, construct asherah poles, take part in Ba’alism and other atrocities. No! Slowly over time, they were exposed to this sort of thing. Over time, it became a ‘normal’ part of culture. I’m not just talking about homosexuality, but I am also getting at violence, sex, drugs, abuse, abortion…over time, it all becomes a normal part of everyday life.

The only reason we battle all the problems of the culture is because it has been allowed to become a normal part of culture. It is simply people seeking joy from the wrong places. They are seeking things out from the world to give them the joy they long for. What they don’t realize is that the only joy that lasts is the Joy that comes from the Lord.

In John 16 Jesus talks about how our grief will turn to joy. In verses 20-24, Jesus is telling the disciples about how they will grieve when Christ is crucified, yet the world will rejoice. They will have sorrow, but they will see their King again. He will return and they will rejoice then.

True joy comes from our risen Lord. True joy comes from knowing God provided a way out of our grief. The sorrow of our disobedience has turned to joy because we have the knowledge that we’ve been forgiven our sins against God and others. It isn’t something that is promised for the future…our sins aren’t hanging over us until some future point at which they will be forgiven then…they are forgiven now! They are forgiven when you accept Christ as your Savior, when you give your life over to him. Not because you have to, but because you want to do everything you can to please him. My friends, true joy comes from the Lord…nothing the world says or does can fill that promise like Jesus can. No song lyric, vacation, love interest or TV show can fill the joy…they all end at one point…they all lose their magic…Jesus forgiveness lasts forever. Will the fire burn hot all the time? No. But his forgiveness lasts through the ‘desert’ periods in your life. It isn’t something that waxes and wanes like the tides in the ocean. It is constant, forever and current. Joy comes from the Lord. Praise God.

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