GOD’S PRUNING PRODUCES JOY
May 20, 2026But let all who take refuge in You rejoiceH8055; let them ever shout for joyH7422. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoiceH5970 in You. For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor. Psalm 5:11-12 We take refuge in the Lord. According to Noah Webster, we have the following definition: Refuge – That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy. (17) The Lord…
REJOICE! NATION SAVED FROM ANNIHILATION!
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoicedH6670. For the Jews it…
WHO WEEPS?
And they told me, “The remnant who survived the exile are there in the province, in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” When I heard these words, I…
JOY OF JERUSALEM HEARD FROM AFAR!
At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from all their homes and brought to Jerusalem to celebrate the joyousH8057 dedication with thanksgiving and singing, accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres . . .On that…
THE JOY OF THE LORD
Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joyH2304 of the LORD…
GOD RECONSTRUCTS HIS TEMPLE IN YOU
But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfullyH8057. The people could not distinguish the shouts of joyH8057…
“MORE, MORE, MORE!” CRIED THE WORSHIPPERS
The whole assembly agreed to observe seven more days, so they observed seven days with joyH8057. For Hezekiah king of Judah contributed a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for the assembly, and the officials contributed a thousand bulls and…
CELEBRATE! THE FINAL PASSOVER LAMB HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE!
The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joyH8057, and the Levites and priests praised the LORD day after day, accompanied by loud instruments of praise to the LORD. And…
JOYOUS FESTIVITIES
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘These are My appointed feasts, the feasts of the LORD that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” Leviticus 23:1-2
TEMPLE WORSHIP RESTORED: PEOPLE PRAISE THE LORD
Hezekiah said to the crowd, “Now that you are once again acceptable to the LORD, bring sacrifices and offerings to give him thanks” . . . Furthermore, the burnt offerings were abundant, along with the fat of the peace offerings…
JOYFULLY JOIN IN WORSHIPPING OUR LORD
When the offerings were completed, the king and all those present with him bowed down and worshipped. Then King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD in the words of David and of Asaph…