In verse 4, Alma used the phrase "exceedingly great joy," and again in verse 26, "my soul doth exceedingly rejoice." The words joy and rejoicing are modified by exceedingly. What a relief! He finally had an audience of people who were righteous and good. They had waited a long time, as he explained, "having had much business that I could not come unto you."
In Alma 5, Alma’s focus of attention was calling the people to repentance and enabling a mighty change of heart. In Alma 7, the focus was on rejoicing. Maybe he knew the people in Zarahemla all too well, but here in Gideon, in Alma 7, he was talking to some people who have never heard him speak before. He was glad to finally be able to come and speak to them in his own voice. I suppose he had sent some other people—messengers and others—but now he is finally there himself. What an experience that would have been for them finally to hear Alma speaking to them in person.
When our Church leaders speak to a smaller group, for example, at a Stake Conference, they tailor their comments to the group at hand. When Elder Oaks spoke in our Stake Conference a few years ago, he expressed great personal joy in being able to talk to us. We could tell he cared for who we are, and we could sense what he felt we needed. We get that same feeling from Alma as he begins speaking to the Gideonites. He calls them his "beloved brethren" and he says, "Seeing that I have been committed to come to you." It is very gracious. Imagine how they might have felt. They probably did not get General Authorities visiting very often.