Joy a Duty
“Rejoice m THE LORD ALWAY: AND AGAIN I SAY, REJOICE.” — Phil. iv. 4.
JOY drives out discord. See how our text, follows as a remedy upon the case of disagreement in the church, verses 1 and 2.
Joy helps against the trials of life. Hence it is mentioned as a preparation for the rest of faith which is prescribed in verse 6.
I. THE GRACE COMMANDED. u Rejoice.”
1. It is delightful: our soul’s jubilee has come
when joy enters.
2. It is demonstrative: it is more than peace; it
sparkles, shines, sings. Why should it not? Joy is a bird; let it fly in the open heavens, and let its music be heard of all men,
3. It is stimulating, and urges its possessor to
brave deeds.
4. It is influential for good. Sinners are attracted to Jesus by the joy of saints. More flies are caught with a spoonful of honey than a barrel of vinegar.
5. It is contagious. Others are gladdened by our
rejoicing.
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6. It is commanded. It is not left optional, but made imperative. We are as much commanded to rejoice as to keep the Sabbath. It is commanded because joy makes us like
God.
It is commanded because it is for our profit.
It is commanded because it is good for
others.
II. THB JOT DISCRIMINATED. “In the Lord.”
1. As to sphere. “In the Lord.” This is that
sacred circle wherein a Christian’s life
should be always spent.
2. As to object. “In the Lord.”
We should rejoice in the Lord God, Father, Son, and Spirit.
We should rejoice in the Lord Jesus, dead, risen, &c.
Not in temporals, personal, political, or pecuniary.
Nor in special privileges, which involve great er responsibility.
Nor even in religious successes. “In this re joice not, that the devils are subject unto you through my word, but rather rejoice that your names are written in heaven”: Luke x. 20. Nor in self and its doings. Phil. iii. 3.
III. THE TIME APPOINTED. “Always.”
1. When you cannot rejoice in any other, rejoice
in God.
2. When you can rejoice in other things, sanctify
all with joy in God.
3. When you have not before rejoiced, begin at
once.
4. When you have long rejoiced, do not cease for
a moment.
5. When others are with you, lead them in this
direction.
6. When you are alone, enjoy to the full this rejoicing.
IV. THE EMPHASIS LAID ON THE COMMAND. “Again I
say, Rejoice.”
Paul repeats his exhortation,
1. To show his love to them. He is intensely anxious that they should share his joy.
2. To suggest the difficulty of continual joy. He
twice commands, because we are slow to
obey.
3. To assert the possibility of it. After second
thoughts, he feels that he may fitly repeat the exhortation.
4. To impress the importance of the duty. Whatever else you forget, remember this: Be sure to rejoice.
5. To allow of special personal testimony.
“Again I say, Rejoice.”
Paul rejoiced. He was habitually a happy
man.
This epistle to the Philippians is peculiarly
joyous.
Let us look it through. The apostle is joyful throughout:
He sweetens prayer with joy: i. 4. He rejoices that Christ is preached: i. 18. He wishes to live to gladden the church: i.
25.
To see the members like-minded with his
joy: ii. 2.
It was his joy that he should not run in
vain: ii. 16. His farewell to them was,” Rejoice in the
Lord”: iii. 1.
He speaks of those who rejoice in Christ
Jesus: iii. 3. He calls his converts his joy and his crown:
iv. 1. He expresses his joy in their kindness: iv.
4, 10, 18.
To all our friends let us use this as a blessing: “Rejoice in the Lord.”
This is only a choicer way of saying, Be happy; Fare ye well.
“Fare ye well, and if for ever,
Still for ever fare ye well.”
JOY-BELLS.
It is not an indifferent thing to rejoice, or not to rejoice; but we are commanded to rejoice, to show that we break a commandment if we rejoice not,
Oh, what a comfort is this, when the Comforter him self shall command us to rejoice! God was want to say, Repent, and not rejoice, because men rejoice too much; but God here commandeth to rejoice, as though some men did not rejoice enough: therefore you must understand to whom he speaketh. In Ps. cxlix. 5, it is said, “Let the saints be glad “; not, let the wicked be glad. And in Isa. xl. 1, he saith, “Comfort my people,” not, comfort mine enemies, showing to whom this commandment of Paul is sent, “Rejoice evermore.” — Henry Smith.
The thing whereunto he exhorteth, as ye see, is to rejoice; a thing which the sensual man can quickly lay hold on, who loves to rejoice, and to cheer himself in the days of his flesh; which yet might now seem unreasonable to the Philippians, who lived in the midst of a naughty and crooked nation, by whom they were even hated for the truth’s sake which they professed. Mark, therefore, wherein the apostle would they should rejoice, namely, in the Lord; and here the sensual man, that haply would catch hold when it is said, Rejoice, by-and-by when it is added, in the Lord, will let go his hold. But they that by reason of the billows and waves of the troublesome sea of this world, cannot brook the speech when it is said, Rejjice, are to lay sure hold fast upon it when it is added, Rejoice in the Lord; which holdfast once taken, that they might for ever keep it sure, in the third place it is added, Rejoice in the Lordalway, to note the constancy that should be in Christian joy. — Henry Airay.
Another note to distinguish this joy in the Lord from all other joys is the fulness and exuberancy of it; for it is more joy than if corn and wine and oil increased. Else what needed the apostle, having said, “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” to add, “and again 1 say, Rejoice”? What can be more than always, but still adding to the fulness of our joy, till our cup do overflow?
Upon working days rejoice in the Lord, who giveth thee strength to labor, and feedeth thee with the labor of thy hands. On holidays rejoice in the Lord, who feasteth thee with the marrow and fatness of his house. In plenty, rejoice again and again, be cause the Lord giveth; in want rejoice, because the Lord taketh away, and as it pleaseth the Lord, so come things to pass. — Edward Marbury.
The calendar of the sinner has only a few days in the year marked as festival days; but every day of the Christian’s calendar is marked by the hand of God as a day of rejoicing. — Anon.
‘Tis impious in a good man to be sad.
Edward Young.
Napoleon, when sent to Elba, adopted, in proud defiance of his fate, the motto, “Ubicunque fdix” It was not true in his case; but the Christian may be truly “happy everywhere” and always.