The Song- Verse Two
There’s something mysterious within mankind that desires to experience joy and happiness. Whether you’re a believer or not, everyone loves the rush of extreme joy. Consider your favorite concert or football game; people go crazy with pleasure. Our worship word this week is gheel: to rejoice greatly, be jubilant and triumphant, or leap for joy.
That definition opens up a whole new ball game of worship (pun intended) when you realize our physical bodies are created to experience God. David, a solitary shepherd, living a lonely, monotonous life, and considered unimportant by his family learned to appreciate God with vigor and celebration, all alone.
He made the trip from blessing God (last week’s word) to rejoicing in Him (gheel).
“I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.” Psalms 16:7-9 NLT
David was a worshipper, wrote over half of the Psalms as he experienced God, and wasn’t afraid to let loose of his inhibitions:
And David danced before the LORD with all his might. 2 Sam. 6:14a
Rejoicing, gheel, is spinning around in a circle with passionate emotion. Your whole being, including your body, is so grateful to God for something He’s done that enthusiastic, physical expressions of joy are released. The circular picture is experiencing joy again and again like the revolution of time. Peter understood that type of joy:
Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 1 Peter 1:8b
Jesus also experienced that type of joy,
In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth … Luke 10:21a
The Greek word indicates a bubbling up of delight in the Holy Spirit.
The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14b
Consider today if you’ve experienced the goodness of God and how you’ve responded. When you’re moved during worship you may want to stretch out your fingers, gently lift you palm, maybe even be so bold as to extend your arm toward heaven. What is your response to God’s grace in your life? Interestingly, the Greek word for joy is chairo, where we get the word charisma and charismatics. You know, those crazy, emotional people who experience God and aren’t afraid to show it.
Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy … Luke 6:23a
We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found! Luke 15:32 NLT
Check out these scriptures this week for gheel: Ps. 9:14, 13:4-5, 21:1, 32:11, 65:12, 89:16.
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