Joyous Trembling: Stages of Joy
“In that day they will say, ‘Surely This is our Lord; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is God, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation’ (Isaiah 25:9).”
“God has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad in Him (Psalms 118:24).”
“Take me away with you—let us hurry!
Let the king bring me into his chambers.
We will rejoice and delight in you;
we will praise your love more than wine.
How right they are to adore you (Song of Songs 1:4)!”
We rejoice in His salvation (Isaiah), in Him (Psalms), and, in You (Song of Songs). Can we find all three in this time of “Serve God with fear, and rejoice with trembling (Psalms 2:11)?”
The verse in Isaiah that describes our rejoicing in God’s salvation of Israel can be applied to this period of Judgment that causes us to tremble, that is accompanied by the gift of Teshuvah, which is our salvation.
Once we begin to rejoice in Teshuvah even as we tremble as we stand in judgment, we will merit the joy described in Psalms of experiencing “HaYom,” “This day,” that refers to Rosh Hashanah, as we say, “HaYom harat Olam,” “This day is the birthday of the world.” We will experience the joy of the highest Teshuvah, which is the gift of experiencing an entirely new existence.
When we can rejoice in our new existence, we will merit the joy of intimacy described in Song of Songs; Attaching to God in purity and sanctity.
One joy leads to the next.