What is all the jubilation about?

Charitoō

What's in a feast?

My family and I do not celebrate the festivities during the end of the year. However, I sent out a message on December 31 to friends and family that read: “In this season that we refer to as 2015 on the Greco-Roman calendar, may you find pleasure and content in the fact that Father God dances over you with joy! Zep 3:17”

My surprise was great at the reaction of some and I realized that amongst most of us there existed the concept of a furious, angry God.

He finds joy in me?

The reaction that really got to me was this one from a pastor’s wife: “Wow, profound for God to be dancing over me with joy. Happy New Year to you too."

But this is exactly what Father God says looking upon Jesus.

So, let’s be realistic.

The work for joy is finished

Let’s look at what Father God says based on the complete finished work of Yah’shua, Jesus, on the cross.

During one of my morning jogs Abba Abba revealed to me that there is much, much more to His Joy than what we may think.

And it is absolute

So, reading Zephaniah (as we did here), whose name incidentally means YHVH has hidden, let’s look at the absoluteness of his great joy of singing and dancing and extravagance over you and me. Let's see:

The LORD thy God in the midst [Hebrew qereb – inner most part] of thee is mighty;

he will save [Yasha … as in Yah’shua, Jesus],

he will rejoice [remember we are looking at a prophecy here reading in the old covenant. Also, remember that the Hebrew has no future tense as translated here]

over thee with joy;

he will rest in his love [Ahaba, see here], he will joy over thee with singing. Zep 3:17 

Joy in many forms

Let’s look at the different permutations of the word joy here:

1.   Rejoice: is the Hebrew word soos, meaning to openly display joy with the pictograph – consume the Hand consumed – looking at Jesus on the cross. See the pictograph meaning of YHVH here.

2. Joy: is the Hebrew word simchah, meaning gladness, exuberant joy, pleasure, happiness.

3.  Joy; is the Hebrew word gheel, meaning to exalt and be glad, rejoice.

Extreme joy

In Hebrew extreme joy is being emphasized and re-emphasized by the intensive form of the word and the concept of joy in this context.  Amazing!

Even more amazing, it all has to do with Yah’shua and Father God’s fatherly love for us. He is literally dancing and wheeling and turning with joy for us in love. Wow!

Even the shadows speak

So, now it makes sense that Nehemiah should prophecy towards the cross:

…for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Neh 8:10

His joy in you is your strength! Not your joy in Him!

It’s the same as with Faith. Remember my post explaining that it’s His Faith that counts!

The joy is His!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

What joy was set before Him?

You and I!

Whose joy forms your being?

Jesus is the joy!