Related Resources:
 

Spurgeon's Sermon The Christian's Heaviness & Rejoicing 

John Piper's book online - The Hidden Smile of God - The Fruit of Affliction in the Lives of John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd)

This - In what? What is "this"? In context this would include causing us to be born again to a living hope (1 Peter 1:3), keeping an inheritance for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4) and keeping us for that inheritance (1 Peter 1:5) (a kept inheritance for a kept people). This section emphasizes the close connection between Christian truth (preceding verses) and Christian experience. A firm grasp of the glorious truths just enumerated by Peter can sustain the believer in and through the fiery trial.

You greatly rejoice - Spurgeon asks...

can a Christian greatly rejoice while he is in heaviness? Yes, most assuredly he can. Mariners tell us that there are some parts of the sea where there is a strong current upon the surface going one way, but that down in the depths there is a strong current running the other way. Two seas do not meet and interfere with one another; but one stream of water on the surface is running in one direction, and another below in an opposite direction. Now, the Christian is like that. On the surface there is a stream of heaviness rolling with dark waves; but down in the depths there is a strong under-current of great rejoicing that is always flowing there.

Spurgeon then goes on to give 3 reasons explaining how it is that a believer can rejoice even though heavy in spirit...

(1) The first thing that he says to them is, that they are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God;" "wherein we greatly rejoice." Ah! even when the Christian is most "in heaviness through manifold temptations," what a mercy it is that he can know that he is still elect of God! Any man who is assured that God has "chosen him from before the foundation of the world," (see note Ephesians 1:4) may well say, "Wherein we greatly rejoice." Let me be lying upon a bed of sickness, and just revel in that one thought. Before God made the heavens and the earth, and laid the pillars of the firmament in their golden sockets, he set his love upon me; upon the breast of the great high priest he wrote my name, and in his everlasting book it stands, never to be erased-"elect according to the foreknowledge of God." Why, this may make a man's soul leap within him, and all the heaviness that the infirmities of the flesh may lay upon him shall be but as nothing; for this tremendous current of his overflowing joy shall sweep away the mill-dam of his grief. Bursting and overleaping every obstacle, it shall overflood all his sorrows till they are drowned and covered up, and shall not be mentioned any more for ever. "Wherein we greatly rejoice." Come, thou Christian! thou art depressed and cast down. Think for a moment. Thou art chosen of God and precious. Let the bell of election ring in thine ear-that ancient Sabbath bell of the covenant; and let thy name be heard in its notes and say, I beseech thee, say, "Doth not this make thee greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, thou art in heaviness through manifold temptations?"

(2) Again, you will see another reason. The apostle says that we are "elect through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ,"-"wherein we greatly rejoice."

Is the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ girt about my loins, to be my beauty and my glorious dress; and is the blood of Jesus sprinkled upon me, to take away all my guilt and all my sin and shall I not in this greatly rejoice? What shall there be in all the depressions of spirits that can possibly come upon me that shall make me break my harp, even though I should for a moment hang it upon the willows? Do I not expect that yet again my songs shall mount to heaven; and even now through the thick darkness do not the sparks of my joy appear, when I remember that I have still upon me the blood of Jesus, and still about me the glorious righteousness of the Messiah?

But the great and cheering comfort of the apostle is, that we are elect unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us. And here, brethren, is the grand comfort of the Christian. When the child of God is sore-stricken and much depressed, the sweet hope, that living or dying, there is an inheritance incorruptible, reserved in heaven for him (see note 1 Peter 1:4), may indeed make him greatly rejoice. He is drawing near the gates of death, and his spirit is in heaviness, for he has to leave behind him all his family and all that life holds dear. Besides, his sickness brings upon him naturally a depression of spirit. But you sit by his bedside, and you begin to talk to him of the

Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood,
Arrayed in living green.

You tell him of Canaan on the other side the Jordan-of the land that floweth with milk and honey-of the Lamb in the midst of the throne, and of all the glories which God hath prepared for them that love him (see notes 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13); and you see his dull leaden eye light up with seraphic (blissfully serene) brightness, he shakes off his heaviness, and he begins to sing,

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,
And cast a wishful eye,
To Canaan's fair and happy land,
Where my possessions lie

This makes him greatly rejoice; and if to that you add that possibly before he has passed the gates of death his Master may appear-if you tell him that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming in the clouds of heaven, and though we have not seen him yet believing in him we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, expecting the second advent (see note 1 Peter 1:8)- if he has grace to believe in that sublime doctrine, he will be ready to clap his hands upon his bed of weariness and cry, "Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly! come quickly!" (see note Revelation 22:20)

(3) And in drawing to a close, I may notice, there is one more doctrine that will  always cheer a Christian, and I think that this perhaps is the one chiefly intended here in the text. Look at the end of the 5th verse; "Reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" (see note 1 Peter 1:5)

This perhaps will be one of the greatest cordials to a Christian in heaviness, that he is not kept by his own power, but by the power of God, and that he is not left in his own keeping, but he is kept by the Most High.

Ah! what should you and I do in the day when darkness gathers round our faith, if we had to keep ourselves! I can never understand what an Arminian does, when he gets into sickness, sorrow, and affliction; from what well he draws his comfort, I know not; but I know whence I draw mine. It is this. "When flesh and heart faileth, God is the strength of my life, and my portion for ever." (Spurgeon's note on Ps 73:26) "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (see note 2 Timothy 1:12)

But take away that doctrine of the Saviour's keeping His people, and where is my hope? What is there in the gospel worth my preaching, or worth your receiving? I know that he hath said, "I give unto my sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 6:28)

What, Lord, but suppose they should grow faint-that they should begin to murmur in their affliction. Shall they not perish then? No, they shall never perish. But suppose the pain should grow so hot that their faith should fail: shall they not perish then? No, "they shall not perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." But suppose their sense should seem to wander, and some should try to pervert them from the faith: shall they not be perverted? No; "they shall never perish," But suppose in some hour of their extremity hell and the world and their own fears should all beset them, and they should have no power to stand-no power whatever to resist the fierce onslaughts of the enemy, shall they not perish then? No, they are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed," and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

Ah! this is the doctrine, the cheering assurance "wherein we greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if needs be, we are in heaviness through manifold temptations." (The Christian's Heaviness and Rejoicing)

Rejoicing in the face of tribulation is a common theme in the NT...for example, Paul explains to the Romans that one of the benefits of salvation (justification) by faith is exulting in hope (absolute certainty of future good - in this case our future glory)...

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (see glorification) 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (see notes Romans 5:1-2, 5:3, 5:4-5)

Writing to the Thessalonians Paul encouraged them with the truth that...

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (Notice that their tribulation was not purposeless and neither is any suffering for the sake of His Name).  (see note 1Thessalonians 1:6)

John Piper adds that

our joy is based on the happiness of our future with God and the certainty that we will make it there. Christian joy is almost synonymous with Christian hope. That's why Peter says in verse 3 that we were born again into a living hope; then verses 4 and 5 describe the content of that hope; and then verse 6 begins, "in THIS you rejoice." In this you have living, vital, life-changing hope; and in this you rejoice. Our hope is our joy." A living hope results in a present joy. (from Joy Through the Fiery Test)

Wuest adds that the Greek construction supports that

The saints are to rejoice in the last time, that is, when they receive their glorified bodies at the Rapture. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Studies in the Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament: Grand Rapids: Eerdmans)

God has never promised that we would miss the storm,
but He has promised that we would make the harbor!

Greatly Rejoice (21) (agalliao from agan = much + hallomai = jump; gush, leap, spring up) means literally to "jump much", "leap for joy", skip and jump with happy excitement and so to be exceedingly joyful, overjoyed or exuberantly happy.

The idea is this person shows their excessive, ecstatic joy by leaping and skipping. It describes jubilant exultation, a quality of joy that remains unhindered and unchanged by what happens. As discussed below in the NT, agalliao describes an exceeding joy (independent of dire circumstances) which is initiated and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Agalliao is used 11 times in the NT(1x Mt;2x Lu;2x Jn;2x Acts;3x 1 Pet;1x Rev).

Matthew 5:12 (note) "Rejoice (chairo - present imperative) and be glad, (agalliao - present imperative) for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 1:47 (Mary said) And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

Luke 10:21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight.

John 5:35 "He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad (chairo)."

Acts 2:26 'Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will abide in hope;

Acts 16:34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

1 Peter 1:6 (note) In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

1 Peter 1:8 (note) and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

1 Peter 4:13 (note) but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing (chairo); so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice (chairo) with exultation (agalliao).

Revelation 19:7 (note) "Let us rejoice (chairo) and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."

Agalliao is not used by secular Greek writers but Peter uses it 3 times this letter which also has a major theme of suffering (see notes 1 Peter 1:6; 1:8, 4:13)

Rienecker adds that agalliao...

appears to be used always with the connotation of a religious joy, a joy that springs from the contemplation of God or God's salvation. 

Agalliao includes not just the experiencing of a state of great joy and gladness, but often is accompanied by audible, verbal expression and appropriate visible body movement (i.e., "jump for joy") Another verb meaning to rejoice (chairo) is more expressive of the inward feeling of joy.

Matthew Henry comments that this

Great rejoicing contains more than an inward placid serenity of mind or sensation of comfort. It will show itself in the countenance and conduct, but especially in praise and gratitude.

Barclay writes that agalliao

is the joy which leaps for joy. As it has been put, it is the joy of the climber who has reached the summit, and who leaps for joy that the mountain path is conquered. (Barclay, W: The New Daily Study Bible Westminster John Knox Press)

Barclay's picture of jumping joy is great, as long as I'm "on top of the world". What about when I am in the valley? Peter is teaching that a Christian does not have to be on a mountain top to experience this exceeding joy. In fact, as he teaches in this section, believers, because of their new nature (partakers of the divine nature), can experience this quality of joy even though they are walking through "the valley" of difficult circumstances!

Here in first Peter the present tense of greatly rejoice indicates that this attitude of exceeding joy was the reader's habitual practice in the face of trials, so that despite afflictions these saints were continually "jumping for joy"!  They could rejoice because of the salvation that has been revealed ("past tense" = caused to be born again = justification) and even more in regard to the salvation to be revealed (future tense = glorification see also the three tenses of salvation) including a reserved inheritance, all being guarded by God. No insurance policy could be more secure! 

In discussing the suffering the saints were now or soon would experience (and historically he probably wrote this epistle shortly before or after the burning of Rome), Peter declared

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing (chairo - a command to have this attitude); so that also at the revelation of His glory (at the end of this age and beginning of the Messianic age - compare verses from Isaiah that use agalliao), you may rejoice (chairo) with exultation (agalliao - present tense - continually "jump for joy")." (see notes 1 Peter 4:12; 4:13)

As emphasized by Jesus in the section below, a Christian who is persecuted for righteousness in this life will have overflowing joy in the future because of his reward.

In His final "beatitude" Jesus encouraged all those who would suffer for His Name promising them that

"Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.  Rejoice (chairo), and be glad (agalliao) (both verbs are present imperatives, which call for this to be a saint's continual attitude - God's commands always include His enablement - see verse below), for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (see notes Matthew 5:11; 5:12)

The question you may be asking is how is it possible to "jump for joy" when you are experiencing various trials?

Luke gives us the answer, recording that Jesus' mother, Mary, upon discovering she was to be the mother of her Messiah exclaimed "my spirit has rejoiced (agalliao) in God my Savior." (Lu 1:47) indicating that the origin of the jubilation is the supernatural work of the Spirit (cf note Galatians 5:22). Luke goes on to record that Jesus Himself "rejoiced greatly (agalliao) in the Holy Spirit" (Lu 10:21) which underscores the Source of this supernatural joy.

After the Philippian jailer had believed in the Lord Jesus and was saved

he brought (Paul and Silas) into his house and set food before them and rejoiced greatly (agalliao), having believed in God with his whole household. (see notes Acts 16:31) 

The same man who only moments earlier was contemplating taking his life, now was jumping for joy at his new birth wrought by the amazing grace of God!

Sadness (lupeo) and gladness (agalliao) existing side by side as in this section of first Peter is one of the paradoxes of Christianity - joy in the midst of sorrow. The Christian’s joy is independent of circumstances and therefore baffles the natural man. Can you imagine being one of the prisoners in jail as Paul and Silas with lacerated backs began "praying and singing hymns of praise to God" (see notes Acts 16:25 cf Acts 5:41 = So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.)

This quality of joy is not a cold intellectual anticipation of future possessions but is a present appropriation of God’s wealth through the Holy Spirit as discussed above. (Lu 10:21 see note Galatians 5:22).

We see this juxtaposition of joy and suffering in the saints in Thessalonica who

received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit" (see note 1Thessalonians 1:6).

Grief is the natural response to the difficulties in this fallen world, but faith looks forward to an eternity with God (Click to study the prophetic verses from Isaiah) and rejoices as the Spirit enables us.

Commenting on the presence of joy in the midst of grief J. H. Jowett wrote

“I never expected to find a fountain in so unpromising a waste.”  

Corrie Ten Boom adds that

The school of life offers some difficult courses, but it is in the difficult class that one learns the most—especially when your teacher is the Lord Jesus Christ. The hardest lessons for me were in a cell with four walls. The cell in the prison at Scheveningen was six paces in length, two paces in breadth, with a door that could be opened only from the outside...After that time in prison, the entire world became my classroom.

William Penn said

No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.

The non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) uses agalliao in 77 verses with 50 uses in the Psalms and 10 in Isaiah. (2 Sam. 1:20; 1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 2:11; 5:11; 9:2, 14; 13:4f; 14:7; 16:9; 19:5; 20:5; 21:1; 31:7; 32:11; 33:1; 35:9, 27; 40:16; 48:11; 51:8, 14; 53:6; 59:16; 60:6; 63:7; 67:4; 68:3f; 70:4; 71:23; 75:9; 81:1; 84:2; 89:12, 16; 90:14; 92:4; 95:1; 96:11f; 97:1, 8; 98:4, 8; 118:24; 119:162; 132:9, 16; 145:7; 149:2, 5; Song 1:4; Isa. 12:6; 25:9; 29:19; 35:1f; 41:16; 49:13; 61:10; 65:14, 19; Jer. 49:4; Lam. 2:19; Hab. 3:18) Here are some representative uses from the psalms (you might want to study some of the other uses)...

Worship the LORD with reverence, And rejoice (agalliao ~  jump for joy!) with trembling. (Psalm 2:11) (Spurgeon's note)

But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice (agalliao ~  jump for joy!) in Thy salvation. (Psalm 13:5) (Spurgeon's note)

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad. (Psalm 14:7) (Spurgeon's note)

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones, And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. (Psalm 32:11) (Spurgeon's note)

Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice. (Psalm 51:8) (Spurgeon's note)

This is the day (of deliverance or day the "Stone" was made chief Cornerstone) which the LORD has made. Let us rejoice (agalliao ~  jump for joy!) and be glad in it." (Ps 118:24)  (Spurgeon's note)

Isaiah in the context of the beginning of Messiah's Millennial Reign (see schematic Daniel's 70th week), exhorts the Jews who have been redeemed to

Cry aloud (agalliao) and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 12:6)

Their joyful cry is the earthly counterpart of the heavenly doxology described in the Revelation.  In light of the Lion of Judah's triumph over the Antichrist and the forces of evil and in anticipation of the marriage of the Lamb to His bride the Church, John records these these words

Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice (chairo), and be glad (agalliao) and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. (see notes Revelation 19:6; 19:7)

And so we see the saints jumping for joy in heaven and on earth!

Isaiah prophetically describing the time when the veil is removed from their eyes and the redeemed of Israel are finally enabled to recognize their Messiah in His kingdom centered on Mt Zion on earth (see also Millennium 1; Millennium 2;  Millennium 3) writes

And it will be said in that day (as they enter into the great Messianic kingdom feast), “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for Whom we have waited (Lxx = "hoped for" = expectation of future good). Let us rejoice (agalliao - imperfect tense pictures this action occurring over and over!) and be glad in His salvation. (Isaiah 25:9 read verses 6-12 for an exciting description of this incredible moment!)

Again Isaiah prophesying in the context of the future Messianic kingdom on earth declare

"The afflicted also shall increase their gladness (agalliao - the Lxx sentence reads "beggars who crouch and cower will literally jump for joy"! cf Jesus' promise in Matthew 5:3 [note], Matthew 5:5 [note]!) in the Lord, and the needy (Lxx = those in despair) of mankind shall rejoice (Lxx = fill to the brim their merriment, festivity, cheerfulness, gladness of heart) in the Holy One of Israel." (Isa 29:19 read the context vv17-24)

Speaking of the time of the Millennium, when the Lord will transform the wilderness into a veritable "garden of Eden", Isaiah declares that

The wilderness and the desert will be glad, and the Arabah (entire valley region between Mount Hermon in the north to the Red Sea in the south) will rejoice (agalliao - personifying nature as commanded to jump for joy because of the glorious transformation) and blossom, like the crocus.  It will blossom profusely and rejoice  with rejoicing and shout of joy (agalliao - in seeming response to the command nature obligingly jumps for joy!). The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. (Isa 35:1)

Finally Isaiah's prophecies utilizing agalliao culminate in this beautiful promise declaring to His beloved

be glad and rejoice (agalliama = cause for jumping for joy) forever in what I create, for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing (agalliama = cause for jumping for joy), and her people for gladness. I will also rejoice (agalliao - first person singular = the Lord Himself will "jump for joy"!) in Jerusalem, and be glad (Lxx = festive, cheerful, merry) in My people and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying (LXX = shrieking, screaming). (Isa 65:18-19)

Think of what wonders we have yet to behold...
the Lord God Almighty Himself "jumping for joy"!

You may be suffering today, beloved. But there is a new day coming. If you are suffering, if you are downcast in the present, then ponder your future. Ponder these verses in Isaiah picturing the exceeding joy that accompanies the Millennial reign. It doesn't get any better than this dear suffering saint.

Habakkuk was transformed from a man in despair to a man "jumping for joy" as He began to turn his focus upon God, finally concluding that

"Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I (LXX = "I" = ego = placed first in the sentence for emphasis) will exult (agalliao) in  the LORD (his exceeding joy comes from focusing on Jehovah, "I Am" ...anything and everything you will ever need), I will rejoice (chairo - more expressive of the inward feeling of joy) in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength (LXX = dunamis = inherent power, ability), and He has made (LXX = tasso = arranged, put in order, stationed) my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments." (Hab 3:17-19)