CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Philippians 4:4. Rejoice in the Lord.—R.V. margin, “Farewell.” The word is neither “farewell” alone, nor “rejoice” alone (Lightfoot). That the A.V. and R.V. texts are justified in so translating seems clear from the “always” which follows.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Philippians 4:4
Christian Joy—
I. Is in the Lord.—“Rejoice in the Lord.” The joy of the Christian is not in his own achievements, still less is it in himself or in his own experiences. A glance at ourselves and the imperfections of our work for God fills us with shame and sadness. Pure, lasting joy is found nowhere but “in the Lord.” When Möhler, the eminent Roman Catholic symbolist, asserted that “in the neighbourhood of a man who, without any restriction, declared himself sure of his salvation, he should be in a high degree uneasy, and that he could not repel the thought that there was something diabolical beneath this,” he only afforded a deep glance into the comfortlessness of a heart which seeks the ultimate ground of its hope in self-righteousness, and in making assurance of salvation to depend on attainment in holiness instead of in simple faith in Christ. The friends of Haller congratulated him on the honour of having received a visit in his last hours from the emperor Joseph II.; but the dying man simply answered, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” The more we realise Christ, not as a dim abstraction or a mere historic personage, but as a living and loving personal reality, the more truly can we rejoice in Him.
II. Is constant.—“Always.” Christian joy is not a capricious sentiment, a fitful rapture, but a steady, uniform, and continued emotion. The direction of the apostle to rejoice always sounds like a paradox. How can we continually rejoice when we are continually in the midst of sin, suffering, and sorrow? Still, when we think of the change divine grace has wrought in us, when we think of the ample provisions of the gospel every moment available to us, when we contemplate the bright prospects before us which even present distresses cannot dim, and when we remember the infinite ability of our Lord to accomplish all He has promised us, our joy may well be perennial. Airay, the earliest English expositor of this epistle, has well said, “When Satan, that old dragon, casts out many flouds of persecutions against us; when wicked men cruelly, disdainfully, and despitefully speake against us; when lying, slandering, and deceitful mouthes are opened upon us; when we are mocked and jested at and had in derision of all them that are about us; when we are afflicted, tormented, and made the world’s wonder; when the sorrowes of death compasse us and the flouds of wickednesse make us afraid, and the paines of hell come even unto our soule; what is it that holds up our heads that we sinke not, how is it that we stand either not shaken, or, if shaken, yet not cast downe? Is it not by our rejoycing which we have in Christ Jesus?”
III. Is recommended by experience.—“And again I say rejoice.” Paul recommended what he himself enjoyed. If he, in the midst of disappointment, imprisonment, and suffering, would rejoice and did rejoice, so may others. It might be that, as he wrote these words, a temporary depression crept over him, as he thought of himself as a prisoner in the immediate prospect of a cruel death. It was but a passing feeling. In a moment divine grace triumphed, and with heightened elation and emphasis he repeated, “And again I will say, rejoice.” We have already remarked that joy is the predominating feature of this epistle, and to the last the apostle maintains the exalted strain.
Lessons.—
1. Great joy is found in working for God.
2. Joy is found not so much in the work as in the Lord.
3. It is the Christian’s privilege to rejoice always.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSE
Philippians 4:4. Rejoicing in the Lord.
I. The text involves the fact that believers may and should rejoice.—
1. The world holds that believers have no enjoyment.
2. There are believers who all but teach this; for
(1) they use not the language of joy themselves;
(2) they discourage it in others.
3. But that believers may and should rejoice is evident for—
(1) joy is commanded as a duty;
(2) it is mentioned as a fruit of the Holy Ghost;
(3) it is a feature of the Christian, portrayed in the Scriptures (Acts 2:46-47).
4. The spiritually-minded, if not warped by some defective system of doctrine, rejoice.
5. Joy is quite consistent with those states of mind which are thought to be inconsistent with it. “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”
6. Joy is the natural result of peace with God.
II. The text exhibits the nature of the joy peculiar to the believer.—He rejoices “in the Lord.”
1. The world rejoices in the creature and shuts out God.
2. The believer rejoices only in God.
3. This joy has several elements.
(1) The believer rejoices that God is—“I am.”
(2) He rejoices that He is what He is.
(3) He rejoices in the manifestations of His glory, which He has made in His word, works, and ways.
(4) He rejoices in his own relation to Him in Christ—“boasting himself in God.”
(5) He rejoices in the hope of the glory of God.
4. Every element of pure and elevated pleasure is found in His joy.
5. It is fellowship with God Himself in His joy.
III. The text renders it binding upon the believer at all times to seek this privilege and to cherish this feeling—“always.”—This command is reasonable, for:
1. God is always the same.
2. The believer’s relation to Him is unalterable.
3. The way to God is always open.
4. The mind may always keep before it the views which cause joy—by the indwelling Spirit.
IV. The manner in which the commandment of the text is pressed teaches us the importance of the duty it inculcates.—Its importance is manifest, for:
1. It is the mainspring of worship and obedience.
2. It prevents a return to sinful pleasures.
3. It renders us superior to temporal suffering—fits for enduring for Jesus Christ.
4. It presents to the world
(1) True religion.
(2) Connected with enjoyment.
V. The manner in which the commandment of the text is expressed implies that there are obstacles in the way of obedience.—What are some of the obstacles?
1. A habit, natural and strong, of drawing our satisfaction from the creature.
2. Not keeping “a conscience void of offence towards God and man.”
3. Not having the heart in a state to have sympathy with God’s character.
4. Not proportioning aright the amount of attention given to self and Christ.
5. Not making sure of our interest in Christ.—Stewart.
Joy in the Lord—
I.
Is intellectual.
II.
Moral.
III.
Spiritual.
Lessons.—
1. Our power of rejoicing in the Lord is a fair test of our moral and spiritual condition.
2. Is a Christian’s main support under the trials of life.
3. Is one of the great motive forces of the Christian life.—H. P. Liddon.