Joy a Duty

Joy drives out discord. See how our text follows as a remedy upon a case of disagreement in the church, verses 1 and 2.

Joy helps against the trials of life. Hence it is mentioned as a preparation for the rest of faith which is prescribed in verse 6.

I. THE GRACE COMMANDED. “Rejoice.”

1. It is delightful: our soul’s jubilee has come when joy enters.

2. It is demonstrative: it is more than peace; it sparkles, shines, sings. Why should it not? Joy is a bird; let it fly in the open heavens, and let its music be heard of all men.

3. It is stimulating, and urges its possessor to brave deeds.

4. It is influential for good. Sinners are attracted to Jesus by the joy of saints. More flies are caught with a spoonful of honey than with a barrel of vinegar.

5. It is contagious. Others are gladdened by our rejoicing.

6. It is commanded. It is not left optional, but made imperative.

   • We are as much commanded to rejoice as to keep the Sabbath.
   • It is commanded because joy makes us like God.
   • It is commanded because it is for our profit.
   • It is commanded because it is good for others.

II. THE JOY DISCRIMINATED. “In the Lord.”

1. As to sphere. “In the Lord.” This is that sacred circle wherein a Christian’s life should be always spent.

2. As to object. “In the Lord.”

   • We should rejoice in the Lord God, Father, Son, and Spirit.
   • We should rejoice in the Lord Jesus, dead, risen, etc.
   • Not in temporals, personal, political, or financial.
   • Nor in special privileges, which involve greater responsibility.
   • Nor even in religious successes. “In this rejoice not, that the devils are subject unto you through my word, but rather rejoice that your names are written in Heaven”: Luke 10:20.
   • Nor in self and its doings. Philippians 3:3.

III. THE TIME APPOINTED. “Always.”

1. When you cannot rejoice in any other, rejoice in God.

2. When you can rejoice in other things, sanctify all with joy in God.

3. When you have not before rejoiced, begin at once.

4. When you have long rejoiced, do not cease for a moment.

5. When others are with you, lead them in this direction.

6. When you are alone, enjoy to the full this rejoicing.

IV. THE EMPHASIS LAID ON THE COMMAND. “Again I say, Rejoice.”

Paul repeats his exhortation,

1. To show his love to them. He is intensely anxious that they should share his joy.

2. To suggest the difficulty of continual joy. He twice commands, because we are slow to obey.

3. To assert the possibility of it. After second thoughts, he feels that he may fitly repeat the exhortation.

4. To impress the importance of the duty. Whatever else you forget, remember this: Be sure to rejoice.

5. To allow of special personal testimony. “Again I say, Rejoice.”

   • Paul rejoiced. He was habitually a happy man.
   • This epistle to the Philippians is peculiarly joyous.

Let us look it through. The apostle is joyful throughout:

He sweetens prayer with joy: 1:4.

He rejoices that Christ is preached: 1:18.

He wished to live to gladden the church: 1:25.

To see the members like-minded was his joy: 2:2.

It was his joy that he should not run in vain: 2:16.

His farewell to them was, “Rejoice in the Lord”: 3:1.

He speaks of those who rejoice in Christ Jesus: 3:3.

He calls his converts his joy and crown: 4:1.

He expresses his joy in their kindness: 4:4, 10, 18.

To all our friends let us use this as a blessing: “Rejoice in the Lord.”

This is only a choicer way of saying, Be happy; Fare you well.

“Fare you well, and if forever,

Still forever fare you well.”

Joy-Bells

It is not an indifferent thing to rejoice, or not to rejoice; but we are commanded to rejoice, to show that we break a commandment if we rejoice not. Oh, what a comfort is this, when the Comforter himself shall command us to rejoice! God was accustomed to say, Repent, and not rejoice, because men rejoice too much; but God here commands to rejoice, as though some men did not rejoice enough: therefore you must understand to whom he speaks. In Psalm 149:5, it is said, “Let the saints be glad”; not, let the wicked be glad. And in Isaiah 40:1, he says, “Comfort my people,” not, comfort mine enemies, showing to whom this commandment of Paul is sent, “Rejoice evermore.”—Henry Smith.

The thing whereunto he exhorts, as you see, is to rejoice; a thing which the sensual man can quickly lay hold on, who loves to rejoice, and to cheer himself in the days of his flesh; which yet might now seem unreasonable to the Philippians, who lived in the midst of a naughty and crooked nation, by whom they were even hated for the truth’s sake which they professed. Mark, therefore, wherein the apostle would they should rejoice, namely, in the Lord; and here the sensual man, that haply would catch hold when it is said, Rejoice, by-and-by when it is added, in the Lord, will let go his hold. But they that, by reason of the billows and waves of the troublesome sea of this world, cannot brook the speech when it is said, Rejoice, are to lay sure holdfast upon it when it is added, Rejoice in the Lord; which holdfast once taken, that they might forever keep it sure, in the third place it is added, Rejoice in the Lord always, to note the constancy that should be in Christian joy.

—Henry Airay.

Another note to distinguish this joy in the Lord from all other joys is the fullness and exuberance of it; for it is more joy than if corn and wine and oil increased. Else what needed the apostle, having said, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” to add, “and again I say, Rejoice”? What can be more than always, but still adding to the fullness of our joy, until our cup do overflow?

Upon working days rejoice in the Lord, who gives you strength to labor, and feeds you with the labor of your hands. On holidays rejoice in the Lord, who feasts you with the marrow and fatness of his house. In plenty, rejoice again and again, because the Lord gives; in want rejoice, because the Lord takes away, and as it pleases the Lord, so come things to pass.—Edward Marbury.

The calendar of the sinner has only a few days in the year marked as festival days; but every day of the Christian’s calendar is marked by the hand of God as a day of rejoicing.—Anon.

‘Tis impious in a good man to be sad.

—Edward Young.

Napoleon, when sent to Elba, adopted, in proud defiance of his fate, the motto, “Ubicunque felix.” It was not true in his case; but the Christian may be truly “happy everywhere” and always.