Number 25: Song of Songs 1:4

"...We rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine..."

Sgs 1:4

During worship, I could see my body as a clay sculpture; not finished and smooth but rough and ridged on the surface, still a work in progress. My mother is a sculpture, I have seen her work on many a piece and this was what came to my mind as I watched the story unfold. He was there, tools in hand, face bent toward mine as He intently worked. Every detail mattered, each curve, wrinkle, and line the product of his fashioning. And it struck me how very close He was, His face inches from where He worked, as if the most diminutive detail would not be there without His decision. “You know what it’s like to be an artist,” He said, “You know that there is no way an artist could be this intimate and intentional with a piece and not love it. You are my works of art, my creations, and this is how I am with you. Every one of you,” He looked me in the face, “How could I not love you?”

Lord...we rejoice and delight in YOU as you rejoice and delight in us, we praise your love and we thank you for loving us beyond anything we can imagine. May we see ourselves the way you see us, may we see you the way you deserve. May the truth be written on our hearts, unshakable. Amen. 

Number 24: Proverbs 24:17

 "Don't rejoice when your enemies fall; don't be happy when they stumble."

Pro 24:17 NLT

It goes on to say in verse 18

"For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them." 

Motivating. Pretty cut in dry "don't do this or this is the consequence." I don't think anyone relishes the idea of God being angry with them. But let's back up, because I find it even more interesting that in verse 16 it says,

"The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked."

Sure, it could be argued (successfully because it's true...) that the point of the verse is the patience and perseverance inherent in the godly man, the fruit of the spirit evident in his actions compared to the wicked BUT isn't it poignant that this is the lead in? It's pretty easy to get all high and mighty on our godly-awesomeness.  so much so that when our enemy falls we relish it. Of course he fell! He was wicked, he deserved it, he had it coming, etc. Who did he think he was going up against you, godly awesome person, anyway? My mom used to say, "Pride goeth before the fall."If you're rejoicing in the enemy falling, you're prideful, which is falling too. Yeah... God points out the truth in verse 16. We all stumble. The godly stumble just as much if not more than the wicked (seven times verses once).

But here is the little nugget that I think really ties the three verses together. In verse 16, the difference between the godly man and the wicked one is how they respond to a fall. The godly man gets back up, over and over, keeps going, keeps trying. Not the wicked one. And I think this is not just a testament of the strength and hope God has given the godly man, motivating him to rise again; it's also an observation of the weakness of the wicked man. Why would this be important?

It's obviously not to gloat that difference, because in the following two verses we are warned that if we do that then God's displeasure will turn from the wicked to us. Should our observance of this stop at the self-application? I know it's taken me a long time to come round to the point, but I believe that God is pointing out the weakness of the wicked, our enemy, not so that we can selfishly compare ourselves to them and work on correcting our own lives alone but to have grace and mercy with them, as He does, because they are so very weak.

The real point is Love. He is giving us a glimpse into his heart for the world and warning us to not be full of ourselves, because through our relationship we are blessed with the hope and strength to keep going. They aren't and that is heartbreaking. God is ever striving toward them, longing to help them, to love them; and that's what he wants from us, not for us to let the poison of bitterness and pride seperate our hearts from His.

Number 23: Proverbs 23:25

Proverbs 23:22-25

New Living Translation (NLT)

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,

and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

23 Get the truth and never sell it;

also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.

24 The father of godly children has cause for joy.

What a pleasure to have children who are wise.

25 So give your father and mother joy!

May she who gave you birth be happy.

Who else thought of the commandment: 

Exodus 20:12 

New Living Translation (NLT)

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

It's "the first commandment with a promise" (Ephesians 6:2) and probably one of the first ones you ever broke. Over and over, whether it was publicly or privately. Maybe you didn't know your parents, maybe they weren't very respectful themselves and so they were hard to honor, maybe they were but you were just "that" child in pain looking to take it out on the world, maybe you became a perfectionist that constantly sought to get some molecule of recognition that they were happy with the way you tried to honor them but it was never enough... Let's face it, they probably sinned against you just as much as you sinned against them because we are all sinners. A lot of pain can come with this commandment, conviction for behavior that can go deep into childhood. This could be the current situation. This could be your relationship with God. 

Or how about some good ol' works-based living? Are your actions on the surface, doing the honoring thing only for the promise?

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing."

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT) 

Sometimes, we skip to the result of love before we have learned to love. We read these promises and try to take action on them, forgetting that often times, these promises are simply the fruit of Love. They are not a magic spell that guarantees security, wealth, easy living or even love in return. It's selfish, we are doing something "good" to get "good." This is the notion of works or Karma.

Think about it, what is Karma? Its the idea that if we do good then we get good, if we do bad we get bad. Seems like a simple enough concept, logical and fairly motivating. The truth of the concept that often escape our minds, but not our hearts, is the safety we feel in it. If I/ME/WE do good then life will be good! But what about when life doesn't go good? All we are left with is either blame on us or blame on God. Either we failed ourselves by doing something that brought this disease/lack/pain into our lives or God isn't "fair" and despite our goodness and all the ways we earned it, He has abandoned us. Ultimately we are left wondering why we should do good at all, because all along we were doing good for ourselves and not out of Love. 

This is why Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment is, says it all comes down to Love: 

"Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”  

Mark 12: 29-31 NLT

Why is no other commandment greater? Because every other commandment would automatically be followed if we were acting in love! If we loved God as much as He loves us, we would never doubt His actions. We would spot the lie from the Truth as soon as Satan tried to sneak it into our hearts because our hearts would cry out, "I know my God and that is not His way." When we love God so entirely, we cannot help but be changed into what we love. We take on His attributes, we learn real Love, and we see others the way God sees them. 

Don't condemn yourself for the past, admit to God and yourself that you messed up but also receive the better way that He's got for you. Start with learning to love God, learning how very much He loves you, and the real change will begin. Don't worry about being perfect at it at first, don't get caught up in darkness He will reveal and heal in your heart. You're not stuck there, He is working in you. Even though Jesus is referring to earthly possessions, I feel that our worries in the emotional areas can be eased with this passage as well: 

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33 NIV

Amen. 

Number 22: Proverbs 23:24

Pro 23:24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. 

#22 of H1523

"I haven't done this in a while. And I thought... You know... I need to get back into a bible study, and I have this blog and hey I'll do that. Of course this is the next verse. I don't really want to deal with any verses about children right now."

That was my attempt to keep going with this project about... 223 days ago. It was what was sitting in the draft, waiting for me. I decided to include it because, well, it's honest. It's full disclosure. 223 days is a long time. My own questions to myself are: Does that make me a quitter? Is it a joke to be even doing this? Come on, I am 22 verses in. 22. Out of hundreds. And who am I to even be writing these things? Why should you listen to me? I've got nothin'.

Unlike the apostle Paul, I don't come to you with all kinds of qualifications that would give me cause to boast. I like to research, I want to get into the Word, and being Joyful is a personal goal. I feel like I started this for a reason and I ought to end it, even if it takes me my whole freakin' life. But I don't think anyone would really say, "Hey! Getting focused on Joy is a bad idea."

Enough about me.

Oh wait, more about me. Why did it take me 223 days to get back to this verse? I had a miscarriage. Talking about children and what a joy they are to have was just a bit of a sensitive subject. And though that's not the case anymore, I am still not entirely sure what to say about the verse. I am sure it is true, despite being unable to speak from personal experience ;)

That's not to say the verse doesn't apply to me. I am a child of my parents and, more importantly, a child of God. Though this blog is focused, perhaps a bit selfishly, on how to have joy personally, its important to remember that Joy is also an attribute of our Heavenly Father. So if an earthly father has "cause for joy" when his children are godly and wise, then how much more does our Heavenly one enjoy it? Maybe my silly little search for wisdom makes Him smile! I'll take it :)   

All of the Strong's H1524 verses

{ Quick Note: I had to keep the King James Version for these in order to show the Strong's reference numbers. If you want an easier version to read, simply google the verse reference } 

TOTAL: 10

Job 3:22 Which rejoice (8056) exceedingly (1524), [and] are glad (7797) , when they can find (4672) the grave (6913)?

Psa 43:4 Then will I go (935) unto the altar (4196) of God (430), unto God (410) my exceeding (8057) joy (1524): yea, upon the harp (3658) will I praise (3034) thee, O God (430) my God (430).

Psa 45:15 With gladness (8057) and rejoicing (1524) shall they be brought (2986) : they shall enter (935) into the king's (4428) palace (1964).

Psa 65:12 They drop (7491) [upon] the pastures (4999) of the wilderness (4057): and the little hills (1389) rejoice (1524) on every side (2296).

Pro 23:24 The father 1 of the righteous (6662) shall greatly (1524) rejoice (1523) : and he that begetteth (3205) a wise (2450) [child] shall have joy (8055) of him.

Isa 16:10 And gladness (8057) is taken away (622), and joy (1524) out of the plentiful field (3759); and in the vineyards (3754) there shall be no singing (7442) , neither shall there be shouting (7321): the treaders (1869) shall tread out (1869) no wine (3196) in [their] presses (3342); I have made [their vintage] shouting (1959) to cease (7673).

Jer 48:33 And joy (8057) and gladness (1524) is taken (622) from the plentiful field (3759), and from the land (776) of Moab (4124); and I have caused wine (3196) to fail (7673) from the winepresses (3342): none shall tread (1869) with shouting (1959); [their] shouting (1959) [shall be] no shouting (1959).

Dan 1:10 And the prince (8269) of the eunuchs (5631) said (559) unto Daniel (1840), I fear (3373) my lord (113) the king (4428), who hath appointed (4487) your meat (3978) and your drink (4960): for why should he see (7200) your faces (6440) worse liking (2196) than the children (3206) which [are] of your sort (1524)? then shall ye make [me] endanger (2325) my head (7218) to the king (4428).

Hsa 9:1 Rejoice (8055) not, O Israel (3478), for joy (1524), as [other] people (5971): for thou hast gone a whoring (2181) from thy God 430, thou hast loved (157) a reward (868) upon every cornfloor (1637) (1715).

Joe 1:16 Is not the meat (400) cut off (3772) before our eyes (5869), [yea], joy (8057) and gladness (1524) from the house (1004) of our God (430)?

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H1524

Verse Twenty One: Proverbs 2:14

They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Pro 2:14

19 of 44 of H1523

Wow. 

I have been staring and praying and staring some more at this for a while now. It's the second or third time I have come back to this entry, simply because all the sudden my little project went from being a poetic heart cry to a very real warning. And it throws me for a loop! What does that say about me? It's rather eye opening.... convicting... life isn't a blissful leap from one joyous moment to the next, joy isn't all about me and a feeling and joy certainly isn't reserved for the good things of this world. Otherwise the choice would be easy, wouldn't it? On the other side of that decision, to be a Christ follower, I know the reward, the worth, the value of walking with Him and that it truly outshines anything the world has to offer. I also remember the truth of my past, that there was a time that I took pleasure in doing wrong and enjoyed the ways of evil. For a time, in the moment, it was easy to do. I said, "No regrets!" and I believed it. 

We may be capable of experiencing joy when we indulge in evil, but its not the same joy we experience with Christ. We've seen the overpowering evidence of this through the testimonies in Psalms and all of the circumstances that joy can overcome and now in Proverbs we are given a new insight and perspective. It's almost like the difference between the right and left brain :) Proverbs approaches the matter from a different angle: Wisdom. 

Two verses stood out to me as I read Proverbs 2. Proverbs 2:10 (NLT) says, "For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy." Verse 21 and 22 says, "For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted." 

The path of wisdom and righteousness brings joy, and yet we also see that evil can bring joy. So what's the difference? Why choose one over the other? I feel verses 21 and 22 hold the key when they describe the wicked being "removed from the land". In my experience, the joy that evil brought was short lived. I felt empty...just...void. I tried to do what gave me pleasure before and it left me lifeless. It was like being cut off, Joy was the land and I couldn't stay, because accessing it through wicked means couldn't only last for so long. Eventually, I'd be uprooted and unable to get back that way. Maybe this is why we jump from thing to thing when we don't have Christ. But the joy brought by wisdom to those who are truthful and whole (and the only way to be whole on every level is through the healing power of Jesus) THAT joy will reain and we will remain in it. Thank you, Lord!

Verse Twenty: Psalm 149:2

Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Psa 149:2 KJV

20 of 44 of H1523

Ever wonder why God made you? I've wondered this too many times to count. And not usually in a positive way either, right? There is no joyful praising the Master Craftsman for His workmanship in you LOL No... If we are honest its more like, "What the hell were you thinking? Why the #&$@ am I here? I am so sick of feeling _____" I usually fill in the blank with "like and idiot" or "clueless" or "like a failure." (My husband is reading this going, "That's a lie! Don't think that!" haha! That's why I love you, baby) Don't get me wrong, I am not doing this everyday (ok...not anymore) but there are times of frustration when nothing is going the way you thought it would or think it should that you really question what the heck God was thinking when He made you, because you sure don't feel like you are accomplishing anything worth living for. 

Anyone else just think of It's a Wonderful Life? I <3 that movie. It's a good reminder. 

I guess this verse just really hit home for me today because it reminded me of how many times I have done the opposite and just how much I have learned about this in the past year.  

In order to rejoice in something, you have to accept it. Interesting word accept. I can think of so many times this word has been used as a portrayal of resistent resignation. (to" tolerate or submit to (something unpleasant or undesired)") But that is one usage out of many for accept. Others can be more positive like "regard favorably or with approval." My favorite, however, is the origin of the word:  

ORIGIN late Middle English: from Latin acceptare, frequentative of accipere ‘take something to oneself,’ from ad- ‘to’ + capere ‘take.’ 

"Take something to oneself."  

Is being made by God something that I can accept? That I can bring to my self?  Can I take who He made me, what talents He did or didn't give me and what that means? That's hard enough just accepting it, but this psalm isn't even saying "Accept what God made you and deal with it best you can." It's saying accept it and then be all excited about it! 


"I can't be all excited about it, there is nothing about me to be all excited about." Imaginary person then goes on to list all the reasons they suck (and by imaginary person I mean me in one of my depression spirals, so I'm not judging here). So whats the answer? Same psalm, different verse: 

Verse 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

The Lord takes pleasure in you! He probably knows what He's talkin' about, right? ;) All Knowing God verses Me, I think I'd bet on All Knowing God knowing what He's doing. If He thinks there is something to delight in then there must be something. OH! And interesting tid bit here, there original hebrew for the word "pleasure" in this verse includes "to be pleased with, be favourable to, accept favourably" Oooooo way to tie it in there, Lord... So lets see...

If God takes pleasure in me and accepts me....then that means there is something to take pleasure in and accept .... which means I'd be believing a lie if I believed otherwise... Which means I should go ahead and believe Him and accept myself as a creation God spent time on and made... And if I can do that, then life really starts to look up, I start to see me the way God sees me, see my life the way He does, and everything gets a lot more beautiful :) How awesome is that?? Thank you, Jesus!