Luke 15:1-10, Habakkuk 3:17-18, Isaiah 61:10. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit, and a fundamental part of our relationship with God. He takes joy in us, and we in him. We look at defining this joy, and examples of it in the bible. Most notably, two parables that Jesus spoke of – the lost sheep and the lost coin. Here’s the main bible passage in Luke 15:1-10:
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Here are the other smaller excerpts from the bible used in this study. Habakkuk 3:17-18.
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Psalm 126:5
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Questions
- Habakkuk 3:17-18. Describe the joy in this passage. How is it different to what we would normally expect?
- Luke 15:1-10. Think back to how you felt when you lost something and found it, and how it relates with these parables? Why did Jesus pick this ‘lost and found’ scenario to teach about joy?
- What do the parables say of God’s joy for us?
- Bonus Question Psalm 126:5. How does this relate to Jesus’ parables?