…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)
The Bible says that He will give us the oil of joy for mourning. In Psalm 30 we read the words:
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)
In the same Psalm it says:
Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (NLT)
God wants you and me to experience the oil of joy. He wants songs of joy and victory to be sung in the camp of the godly.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous. Psalm 118:15 (NIV)
Is there joy in your tent? Is joy resounding from your tent? What does your joy-meter show?
The Jewish Encyclopaedia tells us that no language has as many words for joy and rejoicing as does the language of the Old Testament Hebrew. And that’s because God’s people were meant to be a joyful people. For example:
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace. Isaiah 55:12 (ESV)
…the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)
In Thy presence is fullness of joy. Psalm 16:1 (KJV)
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 (KJV)
Peter says:
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)
Joy is not dependent upon your circumstances; it is a by-product of relationship with Jesus and a Spirit-filled life. Jesus told us in John 15:
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 (NKJV)
May we experience the oil of joy.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (ESV)