Hi Brian!


The word for this week is "joy".  There are many words translated joy. One of those we covered in the word "rejoice". We'll be looking at two today. The first is found in the Old Testament in Psalm 32:11:


11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all you that are upright in heart.


And in Psalm 35:27:


27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor My righteous cause: yes, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.


In both of these the Hebrew word for the entire phrase "shout for joy" is "ranan". According to Strong's Concordance this means: to emit a stridulous sound, to shout. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: to be overcome, to give a ringing cry, to shout for joy. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: Ranan is often used to express joy, exultation, which seems to demand loud singing, especially when it is praise to God.


The next "joy" is found in the New Testament in 1 Peter 4:13:


13 But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy.


The is the Greek word "agalliai", which, according to Strong's Concordance, means: to jump for joy, exult. Both of these words translated "joy" reveal intense feeling that is expressed outwardly! I'm sure some people will be surprised at just how exciting, active and noisy Heaven is! WE get to practice that here! Being a musician must add another whole dimension to that! How blessed you are! How blessed those of us who get to hear you are, too! I hope you enjoy THIS song from Hillsong United! It is called "Yours Forever":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!