Everywhere we look, all we can see is pain, suffering, and evil running rampant. It hardly seems fitting to talk about joy … … after all, isn’t joy synonymous with happiness, celebration, rejoicing??
There is no reason to be happy, or celebrate, or rejoice when there is so much pain and suffering occurring in the world.
The Bible offers an interesting case study on what joy looks like when facing evil and crisis. And what we learn from this case study is that joy is actually a weapon. Joy is a weapon of spiritual warfare.
Take a look at what happened:
“Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in En Gedi.’ Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD …”
– 2 Chronicles 20:2-3
King Jehoshaphat prays (2 Chronicles 20:5-12), recounting God’s faithfulness, God’s great power, and all the mighty ways God had delivered His people in the past.
“Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel … He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them … You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.”
– 2 Chronicles 20:14-17
“Early in the morning they left … and set out. Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever.’
“As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.”
– 2 Chronicles 20:20-24
Joy is a weapon! … Joy is a weapon of spiritual warfare.
Did you notice in the passage that when the Spirit of the LORD showed up to the prophet … the Spirit of God brought the Word of God to the people.
This is how JOY is our weapon.
The Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) brings the Word of God to our minds … in order for us to recount the faithfulness of God, the power of God, the goodness of God, the might of God in the face of evil.
As we rejoice in who God is … and what God has done … and will do, we are actively, offensively wielding the Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God).
Joy is a weapon.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10
“Do not fret because of evil men … for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.” – Proverbs 24:20
“The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.” – Proverbs 13:9
