Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 12

 

Rejoice!

The Bible repeatedly calls upon us to be a people who “rejoice” in the LORD.  “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous; befitting is the praise of the upright.” (Psalm 33:1) “Yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of...

my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:18)  “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.” (Philippians 3:1)

The word “rejoice” means to feel or show great joy or delight.  And did you know that God, Himself, rejoices over you?  “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)  What an amazing statement!  The Lord feels such great joy and delight over you that He actually rejoices by singing out loud!  The Lord is a God of great joyfulness.  He is a rejoicing God. The Hebrew word for “singing” actually means “a ringing cry” with a sense of joy.  What a day it will be when we arrive in His presence and get to hear Him sing aloud over us.  What an amazing voice He must have!

Our God is a rejoicing God.  And He calls us to be rejoicing people.  He longs for us to express such great joy and delight in Him that we shout out with joy.  It has been said that the highest form of worship is when our hearts are so quieted by His love that we spontaneously burst out with joy and rejoicing in Him.

It is not always easy to have those feelings of great joy or delight.  Sure, we all have those moments when we are happy and cheerful about something good that happens to us.  The love of your life says, “yes,” I will marry you.  Your boss gives you a promotion and raise.  Your child is born.  These are all great moments and cause us to rejoice.  But what about the rougher times?  When pain, or grief, or loss, or financial setbacks are coming down on you?  Do you rejoice then?  It is not appropriate to rejoice in our bad circumstances, but it is always appropriate to rejoice in the LORD!  He is with you.  He is singing over you.  So, even when you cannot rejoice in your circumstances, you can always rejoice in your God.

“Rejoice at all times.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)