BE GLAD IN THE LORD YOUR GOD

 

BE GLAD IN THE LORD YOUR GOD Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. Psalm 149:2 Rejoice, believer, but be sure that your joy is rooted in the Lord. You have every reason to be glad in your God, just as David sang, “God, my exceeding joy!” Rejoice that the Lord reigns and that Jesus is King. Be glad that He sits upon His throne and rules over all things! Every attribute of God should add to the brightness of our joy. That He is wise should make us glad, especially when we see our own foolishness. That He is mighty should bring us comfort when we tremble at our weakness. That He is eternal should inspire us to rejoice, knowing that we wither like the grass. That He is unchanging should give us a perpetual song, for we are in constant flux. That He is full of grace, overflowing with it, and that this grace has been given to us in His covenant, should fill us with joy. This grace is ours to cleanse us, to sustain us, to sanctify us, to perfect us, and to bring us to glory! This joy in God is like a deep river—we have only touched its surface. We know a little of its sweet, clear, heavenly waters, but the deeper we go, the more impetuous and overwhelming its joy becomes. The Christian can also take joy in all that God has done in the past. The Psalms show that God’s people often reflected on His past mercies, singing songs of gratitude for each one. Let us do the same. And let our songs never cease, for as new mercies flow to us day by day, so should our gladness in His love continue to overflow in thanksgiving. Rejoice, children of Zion, and be glad in the Lord your God! By Charles H. Spurgeon