16th December 2023
Coming of the King – Advent joy
This is the third in a series of studies on Advent.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 28:7 (NIVUK)
While much of the modern world enjoys so much material affluence and technological advancements, there is still so much discontentment, sorrow, and depression. There seems to be a lack of joy and praise in many lives. How can we have joy in our hearts that makes us leap like newborn lambs and places a song on our lips?
When we look at King David’s comments in the header scripture, we can come away with the impression that two distinct themes are being expressed. First, God is David’s Saviour: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.’ And second, that David was a joyful and grateful person: ‘My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.’ However, the Hebrew parallelism1 shows that the first and second parts of this verse are connected. The Lord is mentioned in lines one and four, and David’s heart is mentioned in lines two and three. David is showing it is precisely because the Lord is his strength and shield that he can trust him and receive help; therefore he could leap for joy and have a song of praise on his lips.
People often search for happiness and contentment in a big bank balance or in the latest gadget that has come onto the market, but eventually, the realisation dawns that real satisfaction cannot be found in these things. When that happens, joy dissipates, and discontentment and depression set in. The only source of lasting joy is in the recognition that the Lord is our protector, sustainer, and Saviour. He is our ultimate satisfaction. No wonder then, when Christ the Saviour was born the angels declared, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’ (Luke 2:10-11 emphasis mine).
He is the one upon whom we can cast our cares and who will sustain us (Psalm 55:22). He is our rock who hears our cries for mercy and will be our shepherd carrying us forever (Psalm 28:9). That knowledge alone should fill us with joy and praise.
As we live between the first and the second coming of the King, let’s resolve to go forward day by day casting our cares on the Lord, trusting in his protection, help, and ultimate salvation. The result will be greater joy in our lives, and, like David, we will be able to sing a grateful song.
Prayer
Loving Father, your Son is more precious than any possessions and more valuable than gold. Please put joy in our steps, and desire on our tongue to praise you, for he is our delight and satisfaction. In Jesus’s name, we pray, Amen.
Study by Barry Robinson
1 ‘in which two lines balance each other in thought and expression’ https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com
About the writer:
Barry Robinson is a minister in Grace Communion International
and Regional Pastor for Southern England, the Midlands, and Wales
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church