The Joy of the Lord
W.F. Adeney Job 22:26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God. I. THE INTERIOR EXPERIENCE. "Delight in the Almighty." 1. God gives joy. As we have but to acquaint ourselves with God to be at peace (ver. 21), so we have but go appreciate his intentions go see that he does not wish us to be in distress. 2. This joy is in himself. We have to learn by experience how this is the case, for no words can express it. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,... the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). But Christian experience shows how real this Divine joy is. (1) The joy of pardon. The soul has been estranged from God, darkened with the gloom of the wrath of Heaven; now the cloud is broken up and God smiles forgiveness. (2) The joy of love. This is mutual - the soul loving God in exchange for his love. (3) The joy of trust. No fear need disturb the soul that is at peace with God. Its confidence is a source of deep gladness, because it dispels the most terrible alarms. (4) The joy of service. It is a happy thing to be working for God, especially when we perceive that we can be "fellow-workers with God." He is the inspiring energy of all our work. (5) The joy of communion. To be walking with God is itself a joy. The blessedness of the pure in heart who enjoy the vision of God is deeper than any earthly delight. II. THE SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE. "And shall lift up thy face unto God." 1. Confidence. While we fear and distrust God we cannot look up to him. We rather shrink from his gaze and hide ourselves, like Adam and Eve in the garden. We may even cry go God for help without daring go look up, like the publican in Christ's parable (Luke 18:13). It is happy for the soul when the shame of sin and the fear of doubt are removed by the forgiving love of God, so that the child can look quite naturally and confidently into the face of his Father. 2. Contemplation. To lift up the face to God is go gaze upon him as well as to submit go his gaze. This is no vision of the eye of sense, for God is Spirit, and must therefore be always invisible to the bodily eye. But the spirit of man may contemplate the Divine Spirit. Theology tries to do this, but theology consists of purely intellectual conceptions. There is a deeper contemplation of sympathy which is only possible go the soul that is in living communion with God. 3. Expectation. Our contemplation should be an act of pure worship in which we forget ourselves, rejoicing only in the beauty of God's goodness. Yet personal wants will make themselves felt, and when they do, there is no one more ready or able to supply them than our Father in heaven. Therefore it is natural to look to him for help in prayer, patience, and hope. (1) Prayer, because the help should be sought from God; (2) patience, because it may not come immediately; and (3) hope, because it can be anticipated with the assurance that God will not disappoint his children. 4. Beatification. The face that is lifted up-to God is illumined by the glory of God. His light falls upon it and glorifies it. There is a great blessedness springing directly from communion with heaven. If we looked up more, our countenances would be brighter. CONCLUSION. Observe that these blessings follow a penitent return to God, and are conditioned by it. "Then thou shalt have thy delight," etc., pointing back to ver. 23. - W.F.A. Parallel Verses KJV: For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. WEB: For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.