JOY IN THE HOLLOW

Joy, that blissful state to keep,

is met in a winter hollow,

where tracks lead in, both wide and deep,

by the edge of the firs on landscape steep,

and where I, with wonder, follow.

Over head, the sun shines perfect light

on the snowy altered tree,

and the downy bridesmaid’s hearty flight

is joined by grouse in peaceful sight,

where the woods are hushed for me.

You, Maker of my spirit’s smile

by the marriage you impart,

declare a goodness for my while.

With a skip, I’ll go another mile,

having joy within my heart.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David 

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

And this shall be a sign unto you: 

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

lying in a manger.

Luke 2:11-12

JOY IN THE HOLLOW 

And an highway shall be there, and a way,

and it shall be called The way of holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it;

but it shall be for those:

the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast

shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;

but the redeemed shall walk there:

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy

upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35: 8-10

Only the Spirit of the Living God can satisfy the empty space in the hollow of the heart. God’s Spirit communes with the human spirit of the believer, assisting and instructing, and rooting joy. Once wayfaring and foolish, no continuation of such persons will walk the highways in Heaven.

The redeemed sing songs expressing joy! Their hearts know redemption, the result of repentance, which is remission of sin, being made white as snow. Because of Jesus, there is joy now. “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!”

In my last post, we looked at the king of Nineveh who had declared to the people that if they would repent, God might relent and not destroy them. They mourned from real heartfelt sorrow at wrongs committed, wore sackcloth, and sat in ashes. This outward sign demonstrated a change within their hearts, like baptism is an outward sign of an inward decision for Christ. God was moved and chose not to destroy them.

Sackcloth is rough. I imagine it's rougher than coarse wool, uncomfortable to wear. It's sack feed material. Shepherds in the days of Jesus often wore it. And sitting in ashes is, of course, dirty and humbling, showing ruin.

Mordecai, Queen Esther's cousin, wore sackcloth and sat in ashes by the king's gate, displaying his sorrow for hearing about the plight of his people at the hands of the evil Haman. Mordecai would not accept clothes that Esther sent but kept wearing the sackcloth. When she found out the evil plan for her people to be killed, she prayed and fasted and then approached the king. He would let her live and speak, and the Jews were saved.

We continue to live in a fallen world.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20

The look of their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought evil upon themselves.

Isaiah 3:9

We are all sinners, as the Bible states. Forgiveness is for those who believe and accept the payment made on the cross by innocent Jesus Christ, the Son of God. But those who do not, who parade their sin, who seek an audience for the evil they display that is contrary to God's clear Word, woe to them!

Scoffers of God's Word place no emphasis on repentance. No sorrow for sin shows no evidence of change. Condoning sin places no need for turning away from it. Without the removal of sin, sin remains.

The Man of Sorrow, Jesus, took on the coarseness of our sins when He died on the cruel cross. God's way for the removal of sin is through His precious Son, which was costly. Forgiveness is remission of sin. Forgiveness is pardon, exoneration, absolution, mercy, and amazing grace! Only Jesus can cancel our sin debt and take away our penalty.

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 9:28

Likewise, I say unto you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 15:10

Remember the uplifting passage of Isaiah 35 about the joy of the redeemed. Heaven’s joy has been bought and paid for by Jesus Christ, the Living Word, the Son of God. 

Give joy to the angels from true repentance. 

Give joy to God from the decision to repent.