Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart

                                                                                                                                   

Aloha Dearest Family,

Recently, at a slow time during my work day, I started to go over in my head scriptures that I had memorized. This brought great joy and peace to my soul as I reminded myself all of the great stuff God had done in my life. This also brought to mind another scripture written by the prophet Jeremiah, 

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, 0 Lord God of hosts." (Jeremiah 15:16) 

I've come to love this scripture because I was able to learn a little of the history of this verse.

The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Josiah. Now King Josiah first became king at the age of eight and by age sixteen, he chose to wholeheartedly follow God like King David. I have always found this to be truly amazing because for the past 57 years Judah had been ruled by two extremely evil kings, Josiah's Father and Grandfather. During this time no prophets had been seen in Judah, the temple had been left to ruin, and the Book of the law had been lost. Truly a very dark period for God's chosen people.

When Josiah was twenty six he chose certain men to start the work of repairing the temple. While they were clearing away some rubble they discovered a book. 

"And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the Lord. And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king." 

King Josiah, for the first time, heard God's Word. God's Word had been lost for as much as 57 years. It wasn't long after this that Josiah had the Words of God read before all the people in the kingdom. Among these that heard God's Word for the first time was Jeremiah. Can you imagine how this must have thrilled his heart? The truth of God's covenant to His people Israel, God blessings; God's promises that were available to His people. He must have heard about how God brought Israel out of Egypt; the ten plaques, the first Passover, how God brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea; how He protected Israel and fed them in the wilderness for forty years.

Do you remember when you heard God's Word for the first time? You can see why Jeremiah was able to write 

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:.." 

When Jeremiah says that he ate God's Words, this means that he consumed the words; he digested them; they became to him like nourishment. The Word was to him the joy and rejoicing of his heart. When we study God's Word the Word becomes this to us, another verse comes to mind, 

"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God." 

If you look at the verse more closely you will find that we are supposed to live by every Word God. The Word makes known God and the great love that he has for each one of us in His perfect plan of salvation through the man Jesus Christ. How can we not want to feast on the Word of God forever?

Love Always, Ray