Great Joy in Heaven

Every time we get a glimpse of heaven, we see a scene of great joy. Job 38:4, 7 describes the mood of heaven at the moment of creation: 

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” While millions of angels shouted for joy, we can be sure they were taking their cue from the Creator’s exuberance. John Piper comments on these verses in Job, “God does not say explicitly in this text that he himself shouted for joy. But do you suppose that God sat by with a blank face and no emotion, while millions of holy angels shouted for joy over his creation? Something would be very out of sync in heaven if that were true.”

The psalmist declared, “In thy presence is fullness of joy” (16:11).

In Matthew, we’re invited to enter into the joy of the Lord (25:21).

Luke tells us, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repented” (Luke 15:10).

“You will fill me with joy in your presence” (Acts 2:28).

 Timothy writes about “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (1:11). He could have said it like this: “The good news of the glory of the happy God.” The Gospel is good news because it calls us into fellowship with a God who is happy beyond our wildest imagination. So to live with His presence within us is to have access to great joy.

Dear Father, I delight in You and in Your desire to be at rest in me. I ask You to be at home in me and fill me with Your very own joy. 

“As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5).