SOUNDS OF JOY AND JUBILATION

“The VOICE OF JOY and the VOICE OF GLADNESS… the voice of those who will say: “Praise the LORD of hosts…” – Jeremiah 33:11a

There are diverse voices in the world, but this is God’s Will: “The VOICE OF JOY and the VOICE OF GLADNESS, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “Praise the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endures for ever and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the Lord” (Jer.33:11). These refer to: “the SOUNDS of JOY and GLADNESS…” (NIV). This was the mood of the Jews as they sang joyfully at their return from Babylon: “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid” (Ezr.3:11).

This was a season of restoration: “I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first.” It was a season of celebrations and jubilations, for a people who hitherto were steeped in captivity. This was a time of Laughter, which is the Sound of Joy! Let’s reflect on their contrary situations prior to the restoration of sounds of Joy and gladness: “Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. For the land shall be desolate” (Jer.7:34). May the sounds of mirth and gladness never cease from our cities and our streets. May we never experience desolation! The voices of the bridegroom and bride shall never cease from our domains, in Jesus name!

That marriages were again to be celebrated was symbolic of the joyful condition of the city and the people; for in seasons of sorrow or mourning no one thinks of marrying – marriage-feasts and all festivals cease! Here, the Prophet briefly showed that God would put an end to the calamities of the people, and give them fresh reasons for rejoicing. But he also illustrated what kind their joy would be: “The voice of those who will say: “Praise the LORD of hosts”!  This speaks of sanctified Joy – with thanksgiving – of the faithful who ascribe all the Praise and Glory to God, rather than the transient, carnal emotions of the ungodly.

The release of sounds of Joy and Jubilation presupposes the wiping off of weeping, and an end to sorrow and sighing, groaning and mourning. In their place shall be voices of mirth and sounds of melody. God says:

“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain JOY and GLADNESS, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isa.35:10).

“For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; JOY and GLADNESS will be found in it, thanksgiving and the VOICE of MELODY” (Isa.51:3).

“Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the Lord will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended” (Isa.60:20).

“I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying” (Isa.65:19).

Ultimately, all tears shall be terminated, and the saints shall rejoice throughout all eternity: “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev.7:17). “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev.21:4).