Humble people joy and rejoice in the LORD.

Part 2

Yesterday:
“The meek.”
The oppressed, those in the misery of having unsolvable problems, and in general those unhappy in life.  But “meek” believers are different.

Today:
“Also shall increase their joy in the LORD.”
It is interesting that “the meek” are joyful people.  Going through suffering does not rob them of their joy.  And they refuse to give it up.  In fact, we are told here that their joy increases.  In the Bible, “to increase” means to add to what is already there.

“They have now no hope but in Jehovah; then they shall obtain fresh joy in Him, because He has delivered them.”[1]

“And the poor among men.”
This word poor means “the poorest of men, namely, the pious poor”[2] (JFB).  It is interesting, but not surprising that the meek and the poor are found together.

“But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4).

As do the meek, believers who happen to be poor also find their joy in the Lord.  Joy is not about the accumulation of things, or the possession of stuff, but about the right relationship with God.

Jesus taught,

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).

“Shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
Isaiah loved this title for the LORD.  The “Holy One of Israel,” he used it thirty-eight times in this book.[3]  There are many lessons to be learned in this title.  I am afraid at that time, the nation did not appreciate those lessons or their God.

Believers, how is your joy?  Are you rejoicing in the God of the Bible?  If not, why not?

“Pride is the enemy of joy.  We can be proud and have fun, we can be proud and have success, we can be proud and experience excitement, and we can be proud and be happy because of happy circumstances.  But we cannot be proud and have joy in the LORD, or to whatever degree we are proud, we are missing joy in the LORD.  The proud can never have joy in the LORD if they are in humble or poor circumstances”[4] (Guzik).

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

Quote: “The surest mark of true conversion is humility” [5] (J.C. Ryle).

[1] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown.  Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] The “Holy One of Israel” name for God is used only eight times in the rest of the Old Testament.  None in the New Testament.
[4] Guzik, David. David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[5] J.C. Ryle (2015). “Bible commentary – The gospel of Matthew”, p.190, Editora Dracaena.