Came across one of those “jump off the page” phrases this morning while reading in Isaiah. Just two words that I had never seen together before . . . mostly because they are only found together in the ESV . . . and there, they only occur once . . . and I’m still relatively new to the ESV. Anyway . . . two words . . . buried within a prophetic promise . . . a promise that captures the dynamic of salvation . . . and within that dynamic there is “fresh joy.”

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.   
                                                                                      (Isaiah 29:18-19 ESV)

The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD.

Some translations talk of an “increased” joy or gladness for those who have been humbled . . . the NIV simply says the humble will rejoice. And while the original word apparently can be translated “add or increase” it can also have the sense of “do again.” So, for the deaf who have heard “the words of the book” . . . for the blind who see “out of their gloom and darkness” . . . for those who have been humbled by their need, and bowed the knee to the One who has paid the price to meet that need, there is a “do again,” or fresh, joy in the LORD.

It reminds me that my God is a God of redemption . . . and that He redeems all things . . .

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.    (2Corinthians 5:17 NKJV)

He redeems the soul through the blood of Christ . . . He redeems the old man making him a new creation . . . and, among all the things that become new, Isaiah tells us He redeems our joy as He places us in Christ . . . the Holy One of Israel.

And I want to say, “True enough!”

There is a fresh joy in the LORD. There is the never fading joy of having once been deaf and blind and now, by the grace of God, having eyes to see and ears to hear. There is the “do again” joy of waking to another day and, in being thankful for the day, anticipating another day that will be so superior . . . a day set in God’s calendar when the redeemed will be face to face with the Redeemer. And there is “fresh joy” for today . . . not necessarily ease . . . no promise of the absence of trial or temptation . . . still needing to do battle with the flesh and the world . . . having to face the uncertainties presented by life’s “circumstance” . . . but, even today, there is a fresh joy available to those abiding in the LORD . . . a “do again” joy abundantly flowing through those who “exult in the Holy One of Israel.”

Praise God for fresh joy . . . amen?