Joy Prescribed : Proverbs 17:22

A joy that's real. A joy that's serious. It's a joy that's a joy in the soul and it comes from knowing God and contemplating Him in all of His glory, in all of ... BiblicalPerspectivesMagazine, Volume22,Number24,June7toJune13,2020 JoyPrescribed Proverbs17:22 By WileyLowry Asyou'reseated,ifyouwouldturnwithmeinyourBiblestoProverbschapter17.It'sfoundonpage540inyourpewBibles.Andwe'regoingtolookatoneproverbtonight–verse22ofchapter17.It'saproverbwhichcontrastsajoyfulheartandacrushedspirit.We'reinaseasonoftheyearthatisassociatedwiththanksgivingandjoy.There'stimeoffofschool,timeoffofwork.There'sgatheringwithfamilyandfriends.There'sgoodfood,there'sgifts,there'sfestivedecorations.Andyetatthesametimethesemonthscanbemarkedalsobythewinterblues,orseasondepression.Thetechnicaltermis"seasonalaffectivedisorder."ThatspellstheacronymSADifyou'rekeepingup.Itcouldbecausedbyshorterdays,moretimeindoors.Thosesamegatheringswithfamilyandfriendsmaybringupsomebrokennessinthefamily,somefamilytensions.Itcouldbringupthememoryofalovedonewhohaspassedaway.Thatsamedeliciousfoodcouldaddsomeunwantedpounds.Thegift–listthatyouhavemayputastrainonyourbudget.Sowefeelatthistimeofyearatensionbetweenajoyfulheartandacrushedspirit. Iwastalkingwithafriendtheotherdayandhesaidthatsomeonetoldhimitwasnothingacoupleofsessionsinthetanningbedcouldn'thelp!Ican'trecommendthat!Insteadwe'llturntotheproverb,whattheproverblaysoutforus–theuniqueblessingofspiritualjoy,ofGospeljoy.Soasweturntothispassageandbeforeweread,let'sprayandaskGod'sblessing. Father,wedoyearnforjoy,ajoythatcomesfromYou,ajoythatlastsforever.WeaskthatYouwouldblessourreadingandourhearingofYourWordtonighttocultivatethisjoyinourlives.AndwepraythisinJesus'name,amen. Proverbschapter17verse22saysthis: "Ajoyfulheartisgoodmedicine,butacrushedspiritdriesupthebones." Ijustwanttolookatthisintwopartstonight.Firstis,"Whatdoesitmeantohavedrybonesoracrushedspirit?"Andthen,"Howdowecultivatethisjoyfulheart?" I.WhatDoesitMeantohaveDryBonesandaCrushedSpirit? Aswithmanyoftheproverbs,thispassage,thisverse,givesusasimpleconceptandyetit'satoughreality.It'seasyenough,it'sbasicenoughtocommunicatethistruthinaproverb,inamemorableproverb,andyetit'softenachallengetolivethisway.Therearemanyofus,Iwouldsaymostofus,whohaveexperiencedtheeffectsofacrushedspiritattimes.There'ssomethingyou'vewanted,maybeit'ssomethingthatyoustilldesire,andyou'veprayedlongandhardforit,andyetGodhasnotgivenyouthatrequest.Maybethere'ssomeonewho'shurtyoudeeplywiththeirwordsorwiththeiractionsandyoufeelbetrayedandalone.Maybeyou'vefilledyourcalendarwithoneactivityaftertheother,fromapartytoatriptoagametoaperformancetoahobby,andyetitjustdoesn'tsatisfy.There'sstillarestlessness,alonging,thatdoesn'tseemtogoaway.Whenthesesortsofexperiencesaddupandtheymultiplyandtheypersistandtheystarttodominateourthoughtsandouremotions,itleadstoacrushedspirit.Itleadstodrybones.Weneedtohavejoy,weneedtohaverealjoypresentedbeforeusandembracedandtakendowndeep.Tosaythatinadifferentway,wecouldsayitinamoretimelymanner.Weneedtoconsiderwhatwearethankfulfor.We'renotalwaysgoodatexpressingjoy;we'renotalwaysgoodatshowinggratitude.Thinkaboutit.Wehaveonedayayearthatwesetasideforthanksgivingtobethankfulforallthatwehave,andyettheverynextdayisthenumberonedayoftheyearfordoingwhat?Gettingmorestuff.EventhedayThanksgivingisstartingtofade.YouhearmoregenerictermslikeTurkeyDayorBrownThursdayorsomeotherridiculousterm.Butthepointis,ifwe'renotverygoodorifwerarelyshowgratitudeandjoy,thenweletsorrow,westarttodwellonsorrowandonunmetdesiresandondisappointmentsandthosethingsleadtoacrushedspirit,aspiritofdespondency,aspiritofdespair,aspiritofdepression. AnExpressionofDeath Ourproverbtellsusthat"acrushedspiritdriesupthebones."That'sclearlyanexpressionofdeath.Theseareemotionsthatarelifeless;they'rehopeless.It'safeelingofhavingbeendiscardedorbeinguseless.Actuallyit'sworsethanthat.It'sbeingemotionless.Beingdull,flat,numb.CharlesBridgesinhiscommentaryonProverbssaysthat"thisisasorrowthatcannotweep."Thisisasorrowthatcannotweep.Theimageofthedrybones,itcallstoourmind,doesn'tit,theotherBiblicalpassageofdrybones–Ezekiel.RememberhisvisionofthevalleyofdrybonesinEzekielchapter37.Godshowshimthiswidevalley,fullofdeadbones,andGodsaystohim,"Cantheseboneslive?"Ezekielsays,"OLordGod,youknow."He'ssaying,"Youknowtheycannotlive.Thesebonescannotbefurtherfromlife."There'snotatraceoflifeleftonthesebonesandyetGodcommandsEzekieltoprophecyandEzekielfollowsGod'scommandsandhepropheciesandGodbreatheslifebackintothebones.Hegathersthem,collectsthemtogether,andtheystandbeforeEzekielasagreathostofmenandGodsaystoEzekiel,Hesays,"Sonofman,thesebonesofthewholehouseofIsrael,beholdtheysay,'Ourbonesaredriedup,ourhopeislost,weareindeedcutoff.'"Ourbonesaredriedup,ourhopeislost,weareindeedcutoff.Yousee,thatexpressesthedepthoftheirdespair,thatGod'speoplehadbeenransacked,theyhadbeensplitapart,andtheyhadbeensentintoexile.Theysay,"Ourbonesaredriedup,ourhopeislost,wearecutoff." ASituationCommontothePeopleofGod Yousee,God'speoplearenotimmunefromthesedrybonestypeexperiences.Evenwhenit'snotaresultoraconsequencefortheirsinasitwasinthecaseoftheirexile.WecanthinkofJobandallhishorrible,horrendoussufferingandtrialswiththelossofhischildren,thelossofhispossessions,theplagueofdiseaseandpain,andthentheinsultthatcamealongwiththatfromhiswifeandfromhisfriends.AndJobcriesoutindespair.Hedespairsofthedayofhisbirth.Hecriesoutinanguishandfrustration.ThinkaboutthepsalmistinPsalm88wherehe'slamentingacertaintrial.Hetalksaboutthathisfriendsandhislovedonehasshunnedhimandhesaysthathiscompanionshadbecomedarkness,that"darknesswashisfriend."Thatwashowdeepwashisexperienceofacrushedspirit. Yousee,theBibledoesn'tignorethesetypeofpainfultrials.TheBibleisnottherejusttogiveussomesortofpeptalkormotivationalspeechaboutourbestlifenoworthepowerofpositivethinking.TheBibledoesmuchmorethanthat.TheBibleacknowledgestheburdensoflivinginafallenworld.Itactuallygiveswords,itgivesexpressiontoouremotions,toourthoughtsofdespairandgrief,anditproclaimsawayofdeliveranceandofhope.OurSaviorHimselfwasnotuntouchedwiththesetypesoffeelingsandemotions.YourememberwhenHewaspreparingtogotoHisdeathonthecrossHecriedoutinthegarden,"Iamexceedinglysorrowful,evenuntodeath."AnditwasonthecrossthatHecriedout,"MyGod,MyGod!WhyhaveYouforsakenMe?"JesuswenttothatdarkplaceandHesympathizeswithus.Heknowswhatconcernsusandwhatourneedsare,whatcausesuspainandgrief.Heknowsthosethings.HesympathizeswithusandHeintercedesforusattherighthandofGod.AndHeevengivesusapurposeinoursufferingsthatoursufferings,asweexperiencethem,makeuslikeChrist.AllthisistosaythatGod'speoplegothroughdarktimes.Theytendtohavetheirspiritscrushed. TheProblemofPain AndIthinkwecanhighlighttwocausesofthistypeofcrushedspirit.Oneistheproblemofpainandtheotheristheproblemofpleasure.Thefirsttothinkabout–theproblemofpain.There'sthepainofdisease,thepainofinjury,thepainofanagingbody,thepainofalovedonesdeath,orthepainofbeingmistreated,persecuted,ignored.Andovertime,thosethingsandacombinationofmultipletrials,theytendtowearonedown.Itseemsthatthesethingshavedraggedoneversinceyoucanremember.YouknowPaulsaysin2Corinthianshetalksaboutourlightafflictionwhichis"butforamoment."Wellsometimesourafflictionsseemanythingbutlightandmomentary.Thisisthekindofexperiencethatacrushedspiritistalkingabout.Beforelong,youstarttosinkintoapatternofsluggishness,disinterest,maybeevendoubt. YouknowCharlesSpurgeon,thegreatpreacherfromEngland,hewasnotunfamiliarwiththoseseasonsoflife.Spurgeon,in1856,hewaspreachingtoacrowdofover10,000people,notmuchdifferentfromwhatwehaveheretonight!HewasinthemusichallofRoyalSurreyGardens,over10,000people.Andwhilehewaspreachingsomeoneyelledout,"Fire!"asajoke,perhaps.Andtherushofpeopletogetoutoftheexitscausedastampedeanditkilledsevenpeopleandmanyotherswereinjured.AndthateventreallyhauntedSpurgeonfortherestofhislife.Oneofhisbiographerssaythatwaspossiblywhatledtohisearlydeath.Spurgeon'swife,attheageofthirty–three,becameavirtualinvalid.Hewaslefttakingcareofanillwifefortherestofhislife.Sherarelyeverheardhimpreachforthenexttwenty–sevenyears.Spurgeonhimselfsufferedfromvariousailments.Hehadgoutandotherpainfulconditions.Anddespitehisoverwhelmingpopularityhefacedcriticismandridiculefromthepressandfromotherministersthroughoutthetownandcountry.Andhestruggledwithdepressionformuchofhisministry,adepressionwhichhesaysorhedefiedas"ashapeless,un–definable,yetall–becloudinghopelessness."AndyetSpurgeonperseveredandhispowerfulpreachingministrycontinuestoimpactandencourageandstrengthenbelieverstothisveryday.Yousee,Spurgeonknowtheproblemofpain.Heknewthestruggleofacrushedspirit.AndIthinkthatit'sanencouragementforustothinkabouthislifeandthelivesthatarepresentedtousintheBible,thathardshipsdon'tmeanthatGoddoesn'tloveus.ItmaymeanthatHe'schastisingus,butGodchastensthosewhoHeloves.Andjustbecausewegothroughthesetimesofdarkness,itdoesn'tmeanthatweshoulddespairofoursalvation,butitmayverywellmeanthatGodisusingthatverytimeofdarknesstodoagreatworkforHiskingdom.God'sstrengthismadeperfectinweakness. TheProblemofPleasure Andsojustaswehavetheproblemofpain,wealsohavetheproblemofpleasure.Ourfirstinclinationistothinkthatpleasureistheexactoppositeofacrushedspirit.Andinfact,wemaybepronetoconfusethetwo,tothinkthatthepursuitofpleasureequalsthepursuitofjoy.Butthat'snotalwaysthecase.Sometimesitmayactuallybetheoppositeandthepursuitofpleasureleadstoacrushedspirit.BecauseanytimeweputsomethinginGod'srightfulplaceorwedesiresomethingmorethanGodandHiswaysorwetrytofindawaytolivepartwayinGod'swaysandpartwayinourways,thenwe'regoingtofacedisappointmentsandwe'regoingtofaceletdowns,unfulfilleddesires.Youknowwe'vechanneledallofourenergiesandoureffortstohavethefamilythatwe'vealwayswantedortoachieveacertainamountofsuccessorrespectabilityorpopularity.We'velookedtoexperiencesandtothelatesttrendstofindourselfsatisfied,tomakeourselfsatisfied.Andyetwefindourselvesalwaysasking,"What'snext?"Orwefindourselvessaying,"Onemore.Ijustneedonemore."Ormaybeit'saparticulartemptationyoustrugglewith,anaddiction,self–righteousnessorgossip.Youknowthosethingsmayfeelgoodinthemomentandtheymaytendtodistractusfromthethingsthatwe'rereallylacking,thethingsthatwe'rereallymissingandneed,buttheycan'tbeartheloadthatwe'reputtingonthem.Theycan'tproducethislastingjoythatourproverbispointingusto.It'sliketheIsraelites,asDavidreadtouslastweek,whentheywereforcedtoproducebrickswithoutstraw,whenweputourhopesandrestourjoysontheseearthlypleasures,it'slikemakingbrickswithoutstraw–itwon'tholdup,youcan'tdoit,itwon'tlast. Andsojustasthere'sasorrowthatcannotweep,there'salsoamirththatcannotlaugh.MartinLloyd–Joneswas,manyconsider,thegreatestpreacherofthe20thcentury.Manyofyoumayknowthathewasalsoaphysician.Beforehebecameapastorhewasadoctor,actuallyaverysuccessfuldoctor.AndhekeptupthathobbyorthatinterestinmedicinethroughouttherestofhislifeandhewouldspeakmanytimestogatheringsofphysiciansandChristianphysicians,leadingBiblestudiesandthosesortsofthings.Andhetellsastoryabout,inhispractice,thatthechiefphysicianthereatthehospitalhadaprojectforhimtodo.Hehadabiglist,arolodex,ofhispatientsandtheirconditions.Butwhathewantedtoget,hewantedLloyd–Jonestotakeallofthoseconditionsonthatlistandmakealistoftheconditionswiththenamesunderneaththemsohecouldgofromtheconditionandfindtheperson'snamethatitwasassociatedwith.Andhesaysthatashegatheredtheselistsandhelookedatthepeople'sconditionandtheirnames,hesaidthatinoverhalfofthecasesthediagnosiswassomethinglike,"Heeatstoomuch.Hedrinkstoomuch.Hedoesn'tgetenoughsleep."Andwhathewashighlightingandindicatingwasthatindulgenceleadstoillness;itleadstoheartache. II.HowdoWeCultivatethisJoyfulHeart? Andsoyouseethatthere'saproblemofpainbutthere'salsoaproblemofpleasure.Andsowhatourproverbprescribesinitsplaceisajoyfulheart,apartfromtheproblemofpainandtheproblemofpleasure.Ajoythat'sreal.Ajoythat'sserious.It'sajoythat'sajoyinthesoulanditcomesfromknowingGodandcontemplatingHiminallofHisglory,inallofHisgoodness,inallofHisfaithfulness.It'sajoythatflowsfromadevotiontoGodsothatalloflifeislivedoutinworshiptoHim.Thepartsofajoyfulheartisitconsistsofdelightandgratitudeandhumility,praiseandfreedomandtrust,confidenceandhope.That'sajoyfulheart.That'swhattheproverbiscallingusto.That'swhatwealldesire,isn'tit?Wealldesireajoyfulheartsothatourworshipisvibrant,sothatourrelationshipsarehealthy,ourworkisproductive,ourleisureisrefreshing.Andyettomakethatjoyourchiefaimsetsusoffthecourse.Instead,ourchiefaim,ourfirstpriorityistobeGodHimself.Justasourcatechismtellsus,that"ourchiefendistoglorifyGodandenjoyHimforever."It'sthatglorifyingGodandmakingHimchiefinourlifethatbringsaboutthiskindofjoythatisgoodmedicine.It'sthekindofjoythatbringsabouthealingandwholeness. MarvelingatOurGreatGod IloveinTheChroniclesofNarnia,thosestorieswrittenbyC.S.Lewis,thewayheportraysjoy.JoywasacentralfeatureofLewis'lifeandhewritesaboutthewaythatjoytransformsthewholelandofNarniawhenAslancomesonthescene.YouknowAslanisthelionwhorepresentsGodinthosestoriesandwhenAslancomestoNarniathenthesnowmelts,thetreescometolife,theflowersbloom,andallthefeaturesandcharacteristicsofallthesecreaturesbegintocomeout.Theywerehiddenandnowthey'reawakenedandthecreaturescanliveastheyweresupposedtolive,astheyweredesignedto.That'swhatjoyisinNarnia.It'scomingtolife.AnditallcomesbecauseAslanhasarrived.ThejoycomesbecauseofAslan.ThejoycomesbecauseofGod.There'sasceneinPrinceCaspian,thebook,PrinceCaspian,andLucynotices,shemeetsAslanforthefirsttimeandshenoticesthatheseemsbiggerthansheremembered.Andsheaskedhimifhehadgottenolder.Andhesaid,"No."Hesaid,"Buteveryyearyougrowyouwillfindmebigger."Everyyearyougrow,youwillfindmebigger.Yousee,ifwedesirejoyinthechangingcircumstancesofourlivesthenwemustfindGodbigger,wemustfindGodbiggerthanourcircumstances,biggerthanourworries,biggerthanourefforts.ThewriterofProverbswouldcallthatthefearoftheLord.It'stherightfearoftheLordwhichisaweandreverenceandloveandadorationforGodandallofHisholyattributesandallofHismightyworks.HowdoesGodappearbiggerinoureyes?It'scontemplatingHiminallofHiswonderandHispowerandHisgloryinthecreationaroundus,inthedisplayofthecolorsonthecanvasoftheleavesoutsideofus,inthemightywindsandstrongforcethatblowsaroundus.It'sseeingGod'swisdomandbeautyinasmallchild,inanewbornbaby.It'sseeingGodinthepowerofHiscreationthatwebegintoaweandwonderandmarvelatwhoGodis. ConsideringAgaintheWorkofChristinSalvation Butevenmoreso,it'sseeingGodasweconsidertheworkofHissalvation.WeseeGodmostfullyrevealedinChrist.AndaswelooktothecrossweseeGod'sjusticeandHismercy.Weseethatoursin,whichseparatesusfromGod,itsetsusinrebellionandalienationagainstGod,thatGodpoursoutHislovetorescueusfromoursin,todrawustoHimself,torestoreusintorelationshipwithHim,andtogiveuspardonandfreedomandjoyandarelationshipwithHim.InChristGodbecomesbigger.Yousee,thecrossshowsusthatwearefarmoresinfulthanweeverrealizebutitalsoshowsusthatwearefarmorelovedthanwecouldeverimagine.InChrist,Godbecomesbigger.Hiswayisperfect,Hisloveinexhaustible,Hisgracesufficient,Hispromisestrue,andHisrewardbeyondcomparison. FaithfulPloddingoftheOrdinaryChristianLife Sooftenwewanttodothingsourownwayandinourowntime.Whensadnesscomeswedon'treallyexpectit.Wedon'tlikesadness.Wewantittobegoneimmediatelyandwelookforshortcutstoavoidpain.WetrytoconjureuptechniquesthatmanytimesleaveGodasafootnoteorlikeanappendixtackedontothebackofabook.ButthatmakesGodsmallanditmakesusbig.Ifwewantjoy,thenwemustdecrease,wemustdenyourselves.Godmustincrease.Hemustbecomesgreaterinoureyes.RaviZacharias,inasermononmakingdecisions,hetalksaboutwhenwemakeourchoiceswehavetodeterminewhetherourwillisgoingtobesurrenderedtoHimanddothingsHiswayorwhetherwe'regoingtotrytolivehalfoflifeourwayandhalfoflifeHisway.Hesaysitshouldnotbethecase,buthesaysthat"whenyoudothingsGod'swayitisaperpetualnoveltyandthere'saboundlessnesstothedelightofdoingitGod'sway."WhatisitdoingitGod'sway?It'sreadingtheBible,goingbeforeHiminprayer,spendingfellowshipwithoneanother,beingpointedtoChristinbaptismandtheLord'sSupper.It'ssharingtheGospelwithothers.WhatisdoingitGod'sway?It'sreallytheordinaryChristianlife.Alifelongprocessofproducingjoy.It'snotaquick–fix.Itdoesn'thappenovernight.Butifwe'rewillingtotrustGodandletHimdoitinHiswayinHistiming,theHolySpiritwillproducejoyinourheartsandthatjoyisgoodmedicine. FocusingontheGiver Youknowthere'sasenseinwhichthiscanbeappliedtotheactualphysicalhealing,thatwhenwehavejoyfulheartsweheal,ourbodieshealbetterthanwhenwearedowncastandindespair.Butthere'salsoawayinwhichwecouldapplythisinawaythatwouldtransformourThanksgivingsbecauseit'sajoythat'sfocusedonthegiverandnotonthegift.Wemaybeboggeddowninourcircumstancesandthingsmaynotbequiterightorthefoodmightnottastequiteasgoodaswewantittotaste,andyetthiskindofjoyfocusingonGod,notonourcircumstancesbutontheOnewhoworksallthingstogetherforourgoodtothosewholoveHimandarecalledaccordingtoHispurpose.Itenrichesourfellowship,itenrichesourgratitude,itenrichesourfoodwhenwehavethistypeofjoy. AJoywhichTransformsOurSorrow Andthelastthingis,thisjoyalsotransformsoursorrow.Youknowjustbecausethisjoyisapresenceinthebeliever'slifedoesn'tmeanthatwewon'tfacesorrowsanddisappointments.WewillwalkthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeathandyetwiththiskindofjoywecansaywithHabakkukashewritesinthelastversesofthatbook,hesays,"Thoughthefigtreeshouldnotblossom,northefruitbeonthevines,theproduceoftheolivefailandthefieldsyieldnofood,theflockbecutofffromthefieldandtherebenoherdsinthestalls,yetIwillrejoiceintheLord.IwilltakejoyintheGodofmysalvation.GodtheLordismystrength.Hemakesmyfeetlikethedeer's;Hemakesmetreadonmyhighplaces."Yousee,that'sasorrowthatrejoices.Sonotonlyisthereasorrowthatcannotweepandamirththatcannotlaugh,thereisasorrowthatrejoicesanditisacompellingwitnesstotheworldaroundusthatwhenwegrievewedonotgrieveasthosewhohavenohopebutourhopeisinChrist.OureyesaredirectedtoHim;theauthorandfinisherofourfaith,whoforthejoybeforeHimenduredthecross,despisingitsshame,andsatdownattherighthandofGod.WelooktoHim.FocusonHim.DoitinGod'sway.DoitinGod'stime.Don'tgiveup.Don'tletup.KeepdoingitGod'swayandtrustHimandtheHolySpirittoworkandtoproducethisjoyinourlives. Let'sgototheLordinprayer. Father,wedopraiseYoufortheblessingofjoy,ofsalvation,ofYourcreation,forthistimetogetherbeforeYourWord.WouldYouleadusoutfromherewithgreatjoythatitwouldpermeatethroughtherestofourweek,throughourfamilies,inoursorrows,inourtrials,inourresponsibilities,thatwewouldglorifyYouandhonorYouwithallwedo.WepraythesethingsinJesus'name,amen. Ⓒ2013FirstPresbyterianChurch. ThistranscribedmessagehasbeenlightlyeditedandformattedfortheWebsite.Noattempthasbeenmade,however,toalterthebasicextemporaneousdeliverystyle,ortoproduceagrammaticallyaccurate,publication–readymanuscriptconformingtoanestablishedstyletemplate. Shouldtherebequestionsregardinggrammarortheologicalcontent,thereadershouldpresumeanywebsiteerrortobewiththewebmaster/transcriber/editorratherthanwiththeoriginalspeaker.Forfullcopyright,reproductionandpermissioninformation,pleasevisittheFirstPresbyterianChurchCopyright,Reproduction&Permissionstatement. ThisarticleisprovidedasaministryofThirdMillenniumMinistries(Thirdmill). 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