Joy Gems

Joyful and Glad

I Kings 8:65-66 "So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him - a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days in all. On the following day he sent the people away. They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel."

Have you ever gone home from a wedding or family gathering or some church conference, joyful and glad, feeling very satisfied that God was there and the blessings just flowed? Secular people often judge how good a party was by how much they laughed and drank there; as Christians, we get satisfaction from seeing God at work in the lives and affairs of people we know and love.

Even in very Christian events I am able to discern when things happened in a very predictable pattern without any strong evidence of God's blessing and presence, and other times, when my heart is stirred by the sense of His power at work in the people there, and what was said and done that glorified Him. I always go home in the latter case, joyful and glad, and brimming with prayers of blessing for the people I was with.

That seems to be the scenario when King Solomon dedicated the temple he had built in Jerusalem. They had already been feasting for seven days, then it was extended another seven days. They just didn't want to leave! But the next morning, Solomon, realizing that they did have to get back to their work, sent them home with his blessing. As they said their goodbyes, the people blessed Solomon and went home, joyful and glad in their hearts for all the good God had done in David's and now in Solomon's life.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, that is a good feeling! When we go home from a very special time, joyful and glad because we have seen You at work in the lives of the special people we were with. It just warms and cheers our hearts! It gives us hope and confidence that You are concerned about our lives too, and we will continue to see Your goodness and mercy in the days to come! Amen!

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