The joy of the Lord is our strength. As we pray for reformation, as we worship with reformation in mind.
This phrase, taken from Nehemiah, should not be mis-rendered. We should not say, “The grief of the Lord is our strength.” God’s purpose is to save and deliver us. This does entail the grief that comes with repentance, but grieving repentance that never moves beyond itself is not really repentance. God did not ordain that we would all get spiritual cancer so that He would have the opportunity to put us through everlasting chemo treatments. He gives us the grief of repentance so that we might move on to the joy of healing and faith. And the joy of faith is our strength.
Still less is the joy of man our strength. Light, frothy, giggly worship is not the solid and majestic thing that God-honoring worship is. When God is honored, all other things take their rightful place and assume a dignity they cannot have in any other way.
This joy is the joy that comes from citizenship in a new city, a new polis, a new political order. This new order in heaven and on earth is a monarchy and Jesus Christ is the king of this kingdom. And His realm is not limited to the tiny confines of your heart and mine. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, all nations have been given into His hand. Shall He not have His way with them? Will He, given this glorious scepter, refuse to rule with it?
This being the case, and because you belong to Him, you worship Him with joy inexpressible and full of glory. And this joy is your strength. “With salvation’s walls surrounded, thou mayest smile at all thy foes.”