Fullness of Joy…

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Ps 16:11

I decided to really dig into the Hebrew for this verse which is actually only nine Hebrew words, each word being translated into a phrase in English. I’ll put some of the additional meanings next to each phrase…

‘Thou wilt shew’ – yada` -‘cause to know, to ascertain by seeing, understand.’

God teaches us, by His Spirit and brings us to know and understand the path of life. He opens our spiritual eyes to see the way to Him and eternal life.

‘me the path,’ – orach -‘a well trodden road, race, traveller, troop.’

This path has been well trodden by all the pilgrims who have gone before and also by our Saviour, what comfort there is in that thought.

Jesus has walked this pilgrim path and knows the enemies and the trials that we face.

It’s a hard path but a path of life, death swallowed up in victory, the victory that Christ bought for us on the cross.

It’s a way of faith, trusting, as we follow Jesus…

‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’

Jesus is the light that we follow…

‘Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’

We are but pilgrims and travelers in this life on earth, this world is not our home.

Like each of those saints recorded in Hebrews 11, we are ‘strangers and pilgrims on the earth.’ and Paul encourages us to…

‘run with patience the race that is set before us,’ this path of life, that the Christian travels as they journey towards heaven.

Each child of God is one of a troop of Christian soldiers, fighting for the cause of Christ, battling many enemies, not least among them our old sinful nature, yet assured of victory through Christ Jesus.

‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’

‘of life:’- chay -‘strong, running, troop.’

Interestingly, again, we have the word troop that reminds us that this life is a spiritual battle ground.

‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’

This path of life friends is a battle but we don’t fight alone…

‘The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.’

‘Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’

We are provided with that heavenly armour, (Eph 6:13-18) including God’s word and prayer to equip us for this battle of life.

In this third phrase we also have the meaning of running…

‘Draw me, we will run after thee’

The Spirit draws us and we are to run, not in our own strength and wisdom but in the strength of the Lord…

‘But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint..

‘in thy presence’ – paniym – ‘the face (as the part that turns);’

Ah, isn’t that joy indeed, a little heaven on earth, when Jesus turns and looks at us, with that look of love and pity and compassion and we feel a little of the sweetness of His felt presence.

‘For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

‘is fulness – soba`- ‘satisfaction’.

That’s it isn’t it friends, God’s presence is the only place we’ll ever find true satisfaction. How often we forget and try to fill up on the things of this life. It’s so easy to seek for satisfaction in things, hobbies, our loved ones, our achievements etc, instead of laying up those treasures in heaven.

‘of joy;’.- simchah – ‘rejoicing, exceeding, pleasure.’

There’s exceeding, full, rejoicing and pleasure in God’s presence, if we know a little of it now there will be the anticipation of the fullness of this joy to come…

‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.’

‘at thy right hand’ – yamiyn -‘right hand or side.’

There will be pleasures for ever at the right hand of God in heaven.

Jesus is already there, standing between, pleading for us, so that we might come to God and know a little of the fullness of the joy of His presence here below, through Christ…

‘ It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us..

‘But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:’

What a blessing when we know a little of heaven on earth!

‘there are pleasures’ – na`iym – ‘delights.‘

‘for evermore’ – netsach -‘a goal, the bright object at a distance travelled towards; continually, constantly, perpetual, victory.’

Friends, have you tasted a little of these delights?….’As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.’

If you have, then you have tasted a little of heaven, a little of those pleasures, those delights that we will experience in all their fullness, continually, when we have run the race and fought the fight and proved victory in and through Christ Jesus!

‘Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.’

Psalm 16:11, 2 Cor 5:7, John 8:12, Heb 11:13, Heb 12:1, 1 Cor 15:57, Eph 6:12, Ex 14:14, Eph 6:13, Sol 1:4, Is 40:31, 2 Cor 4:6, 1 Cor 13:12, Sol 2:3,4, Psalm 16:11.