In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11b
The Jewish King, David, was a passionate man with strong emotions. Anger, Love, Gladness, Fear. He was 100% everything he felt. And Joy was a big part of his life and faith.
Writing to God he said, “in your presence is Joy!”, and “at your right hand is constant and forever joy”. Term, “at right hand” in ancient times was a special place of honor.
Jesus, when he arose from the dead, after paying the price for our sins, was seated at God’s right hand. In fact, many think the 16th Psalm was written about Jesus’ resurrection, from his perspective.
That’s great for Jesus, seated where there is eternal Joy, but what about us?
The Apostle Paul wrote,
"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" - Ephesians 2:6
How could he say that? Paul was a logical man, where was the logic in this, we are on this side of eternity.
The thought process is this… When we give our lives to Christ, he enters us, literally, and we enter him. Where we go, he is there in us, AND where he is, we are there in him. The first part is fairly easy to understand, but the second part is also true!
In Christ we live at God’s right hand where Joy is, and, if we let ourselves believe it, we can feel it this side of eternity.
Sometimes, here, we get knocked around a bit and stop feeling very joyful, but that is not where we stay.
King David wrote
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise (Psalm 42:4)
The king was not feeling it, so what did he do? He gave himself a good talking to! He told himself this…
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
among the festive throng (Psalm 42:11).
Give yourself a good talking to! Embrace it by faith!
Life is intended to be lived in Joy; it is found in God’s presence. Surrendering to Jesus put us smack dab in the middle of it.
Before meeting Christ, Saul (who later became the Apostle Paul) “breathed” anger and murder against Christ’s early followers.
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 