CAUSE TO CELEBRATE, Part 2

We have been looking at two words for God’s love. Agape is the closest the Greek language can come to the Hebrew word rachamרהם .

As in John 3:16, agape speaks of a deep love, compassion, and tender mercy that flows just from one person or source and may or may not be returned to complete a circle by response. On the other hand, the Hebrew word racham speaks of a completed love, a love that is also returned, completing the circle and bringing great joy and celebration.

For example, in Zephaniah 3:17, God Himself is in our midst, saving those who will be saved, rejoicing over us with gladness, quieting us by His love, exulting over us with loud singing because the circle of His love is complete. Can you imagine that we can bring that kind of joy to the heart of God, simply by returning His own love back to Him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength?

Isaiah 49:13 says, “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break-forth, O Mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted.”

This speaks of such an exceeding joy that it causes one to tremble in a reverential, awe-inspired excitement over what just happened! It speaks of a violent emotion erupting in Joy! It speaks of breaking out in dance, and making a loud, joyful noise because the Lord has comforted His people: He eased and consoled them in their repentance. 

Also in Isaiah 49:13, the phrase on His afflicted speaks of those who are depressed in their mind or in their circumstances and as a result are in great need. He will have compassion (racham) on them, loving them up in their minds, and will call all of heaven to join in on the celebration of life. The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) permits such a word picture, as does Luke 15:7 when all of Heaven rejoices over one sinner coming to repentance. 

When we experience God’s love and respond in love toward Him in return, we enter that circle of love and joy, the completed circle of great love that God planned as part of our eternal redemption. What wondrous love! What wondrous joy!