Hebrews 1:9 ” Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. ”
True gladness, or joy and happiness in life, is possible only with a righteous life in the eyes of God. The writer of Hebrews describes Christ in this verse as loving righteousness and hating sin, therefore God anointed Him with gladness and exalted Him above all else. Christ was anointed with gladness because His perfect and sinless life allowed Him to be in perfect communion with His Father. This is gladness: to have nothing between you and God, to know that He is caring for your every need, to be in right relationship with Him, and to obey His voice that you might show Him that you love Him. Psalm 68:3 tells us to ” let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice “. Gladness comes from God and is a gift from Him. He ” anoints ” us with gladness and ” lets ” us be glad when we are righteous.
Righteousness comes from truly believing in Christ, confessing Him as Lord of our life, and choosing to follow and obey Him (Romans 10:9-10). When we believe in our heart that Christ is our Saviour, we are made righteous in God’s eyes and we are saved. God cannot look upon sin and sin without repentance is the only thing that can keep us from God. ” The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15,17). Being made righteous is the key to an open relationship with God and when we are righteous He can deliver us and bless us. ” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). We find God, and He adds to us gladness and joy when we seek Him with our whole hearts (Jeremiah 29:13).
Just as we must come to God to be made righteous upon our acceptance of Christ as Saviour, we must come to Him daily for cleansing. Though we are saved, the influence of the world daily tries to pull us away from Christ and just as the disciples needed the dust of the world washed from their feet (John 13), we need a daily cleansing. We are told in 1 John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us. Each daily dose of the world has the power to pull us from Christ, therefore we must come to God each day, asking Him to ” Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). When God reveals the sin in our life and we repent of it we are made new and are cleansed from our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Then the lines of communication with God are again opened and we can walk again with Him. The key to a life of joy and gladness is a day to day walk with Jesus Christ, for we are told in Psalm 16:11 ” Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore “.
Joy and gladness are gifts from God. As we follow His ” path of life ” we receive true pleasure in life. The world cannot truly please us because it cannot bring peace to our hearts. ” Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee ” (Isaiah 26:3). True peace and contentment come from a mind and heart that is focused on Him. When we are focused on God and in right standing with Him, He can bless us and bless us abundantly.
Job 36:7 ” He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted .”
Psalm 92:12-13 ” The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God .”
Matthew 13:43 ” Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear .”
My friends, we can claim the promises of God in the verses above and be glad in Him. He promises us that He will not take His eyes from us and will exalt us as kings because we are righteous. Doesn’t that make you glad? He promises us that as righteous ones, we will flourish like palm trees. When we are planted in God’s house, we will flourish. Doesn’t that make you glad? He promises us that as His righteous children we will shine forth as the sun in His Kingdom. Now that MUST make you glad!
Just as Christ in His righteousness was anointed with the oil of gladness, God can anoint us with gladness and happiness and joy as He forgives us of our sins, cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and makes us to shine forth as the sun (1 John 1:9, Matthew 13:43). So friends, ” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ” (Matthew 5:16).