“For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:44
Scripture tells us that the belssing of the Lord maketh rich, and this is true. God’s manifest blessing is a cause for great thanksgiving, praise, and joy. This was the case of the lame man who was put every day at the temple gate called Beautiful. But there came a day when Peter and John came to the temple to pray, that the lame man was made rich, not with silver and gold, but with Christ, His healing hand, and the unveiling of His glory. So, Peter takes the man’s hand, lifts him up in the name of the Lord Jesus. The man is healed from that moment, and begins to know the fulness of joy. His joy is of such magnitude that he begins to walk, leap, and praise God. Not only did the man have a reason for being joyful, but he had been touched and healed by Joy itself, the Lord Jesus by His Spirit.
When Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Scripture tells us that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice of greeting, that her baby, “…leaped in my womb for joy.” What is the significance of this, and why did this occur? First of all, the reason for the joy was the knowledge of the person to be revealed, not only as a baby to be born, but as the Savior of the world. All of that which on earth, indeed, all of creation, would not compare with Him in His beauty, glory, goodness, and love. Here before Elizabeth stood the mother of Jesus, the one to give birth to the eternal Son of God who was to come in the flesh, to save us all. The eternal Spirit of God in John the unborn babe, also filling Elizabeth, was thrilled at the prospect and presence of Christ, not only concerning the mission of salvation that He had come to accomplish, but simply by the presentation of Him, His Person. None would be so worthy as Him, so good and glorious, for none would compare with Him in the perfection of His love and wisdom. There before Elizabeth is the testimony in Mary of the One who was to come, declared from the foundation of the world, as God the Father’s provision to save us all.
When David, upon hearing that God had blessed the house of Obed-edom because the Ark of the covenant had remained in his house for at least three months, he purposed in his heart to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, God’s way for God’s glory. It was as all was ordered according to the Lord’s instructions as to how to do this, that David and the elders, and the people, brought the Ark into the city, there to be seen by all. It was a day of great joy, a joy of such proportion and power that David would leap and danse before it, “with all his might.” We read of the account that there was great joy that day, not only in the heart of David but also in the heart of the people. David would even write and deliver a psalm for that day, declaring that the thanks were to be given to God, and there being the calling upon His name. They were to sing unto Him with psalms and talk of His wondrous works. They were also to glory in His holy name and rejoice while seeking Him. What does this joy in a lame man’s heart, or in the heart of an unborn babe mean? It is that same joy that David and the people knew when the Ark came into Jerusalem?
The Lord Jesus said to His disciples: “These things I have spoken unto you, that MY joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (Jn. 15:11) Christ’s joy, the joy of heaven, is given to strengthen men’s hearts.
Dear Father, Make us forever joyful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.