JOY OF OBEDIENCE

“So there was GREAT JOY in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem” – 2 Chronicles 30:26

One of the most powerful dimensions of Joy in the life of the Believer is the JOY of OBEDIENCE. That’s what Hezekiah’s story in 2 Chronicles 30 reveals. Ordinarily, Joy and Obedience don’t seem to fit together. Joy seems liberating; obedience sounds restrictive. Joy conveys cheerfulness; obedience sounds burdensome. Most people would never think that the way to true joy in life lies on the path of obedience to God. But that is the reality. Obedience triggers Joy. Perfect Obedience births Perfect Joy!

Hezekiah was a godly king who in the first year of his reign resolved to restore personal and national worship as the top priority. He cleansed and restored the temple and reinstituted the sacrifices. He invited the entire nation to observe the Passover in Jerusalem, and this resulted in the greatest worship celebration since the division of the kingdom. The theme of heartfelt, joyful obedience occurs consistently throughout the chapter, as not only Judah, but also many in Israel joined together to celebrate the Passover. The summary: “Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to OBEY the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD” (v.12). The mood of the convocation was “great gladness” and feasting. They had such a great time that they decided to extend it an extra week; they didn’t want it to end (vv.21-23). There was rejoicing and “GREAT JOY” (v.25, 26). Though some mocked and refused to come (v.10), those who obeyed knew the deep and lasting joy only God can give.

This kind of joy comes with obedience from the heart. The Joy of Obedience is not a spiritual fantasy but a reality and rest of faith. It is unfortunate to see some of God’s children approach Him with rationalisations and arguments instead of submission. Some people erroneously associate obedience only with nurturing children, forgetting that we are all meant to be God’s children, and to relate to Him as our Father! The Lord is saying: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?” (Mal.1:6a). Submission and obedience to God’s will are important at every stage of a believer’s maturity. As our faith grows, obedience becomes a cornerstone of fellowship with our Father. Through it, He teaches us more about His love and precepts while drawing us closer to Himself.

God delights greatly in those who trust and obey Him unconditionally. Disobedience says to the Lord, “I know better than You how to govern my life.” Nothing could be further from the truth. We might think our rationalisations sound convincing, but God isn't fooled. He requires total trust and complete obedience. When we decide to follow only portions of His will, we choose the path of rebellion, and can expect consequences for not following the right path. Scripture and human experiences are full of stories to prove that obedient submission is the only way to experience deep, lasting joy. Obedience need not be associated with oppression or loss of freedom and fun. Obedience from the heart to our gracious God produces great joy. John the Beloved wrote: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1Jh.5:3).

Nothing good can come from rebelling against the Lord, and nothing bad can come from obeying Him. Obedience is the pathway to wisdom and blessing. A fulfilled life is the portion of one whose eyes are focused upon the Lord, whose ears are open to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, and whose heart feasts on His Word. When we choose the lifestyle of obedience, we guarantee ourselves the finest that God has to offer. There is no second best for the obedient child of the Father. Beloved, “trust and OBEY, for there is no other way to be JOYFUL in JESUS, but to trust and obey!