What do we know about Christ's joy and the source of it? Was He not "the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief"? He was. Nevertheless, He was also the Man of joy who found His pleasure in doing the Father's will, even to the death of the Cross.

In Psalm 16:9 the Spirit of Christ through David says, "Therefore My heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth." Looking at the preceding verses of this Psalm, we find the reasons for, and source of, His joy thus expressed in verse 9. Let us briefly notice ten elements of His life as the obedient Man Christ Jesus, and mark how these same characteristics, if true of us, will bring His joy to us.

1. He was dependent upon His God, the Mighty One in whom He took refuge—"In Thee do I put My trust" (v. 1).

2. He was subject to Jehovah as His Lord, seeking no profit for Himself—"Thou art My Lord: My goodness extendeth not to Thee" (v. 2).

3. Goodness was shown by Him to the saints of God in a love that seeks not His own—"To the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all My delight" (v. 3).

4.Jehovah Himself was the portion of His inheritance, and also His cup (v. 5). That is, all that was His as the Son with the Father He enjoyed to the fullest extent.

5. He accepted all things, favorable or adverse, as coming from Jehovah, showing He was truly the Meek and Lowly in heart. He could say, even though He had no place to lay His head, "The lines are fallen unto Me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage" (v. 6).

6. He was a praising Man—"I will bless the Lord" (v. 7).

7. He was receptive of the counsel the Father gave Him—"Who hath given Me counsel" (v. 7).

8. When awaking long before day, He sought instruction for the path that lay before Him for that day—"My reins also instruct Me in the night seasons" (v. 7).

9.He always set Jehovah before Him as the Object for His affections; the guide for His path; the reason for His words and actions (v. 8).

10. He was confident of the stability of the path of faith because of His communion with Jehovah—"I shall not be moved" (v. 8).

—D.T.J.