Psalm 137:1-4, “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, ‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’ ‘How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?’”
As you can see there was no joy in captivity! God’s people are a happy, singing people. But when we are held captive by anything, ie: depression, sin, discouragement, worries, doubts and fears, it’s hard to be joyful, and if we do not have the joy of the Lord, we cannot sing!
God wants His people to be a happy, joyful people!
“Joy is a spiritual result of our focus on God. It is tied to our salvation and our walk with Christ. Joy is eternally-based and can be ours even in our deepest valleys…Joy is from God and therefore can never be stolen from us. Joy is given through the Holy Spirit the moment we accept Christ as our Savior. As Christians, our joy can never be completely destroyed, although there are many pitfalls which can significantly diminish it. Joy is a permanent gift from God, but it also a gift for which we must take responsibility for nurturing and protecting on a daily basis. –Dr. Michael Youssef
•Psalm 5:11, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.”
•Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
•Psalm 33:1, “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.”
•Psalm 66:1, “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!”
•Psalm 71:23, “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed.”
•Psalm 81:1, “Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.”
•Psalm 89:15,16, “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.”
•Psalm 95:1, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.”
•Psalm 97:12, “Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”
•Psalm 98:4,8, “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises… Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord.”
•Psalm 104:34, “May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.”
•Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 149:5,6, “Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth.”
Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
•Isaiah 35:10, “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
•Jeremiah 15:16, “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight.”
•Luke 10;20, “Rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”
