Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 19 & Psalm 64

Rejoice – Take Refuge – Exult

Psalm 64 is a prayer of David. He is complaining about the dread of the enemy and the secret plots of wicked people. About halfway through this Psalm, David’s eyes turn off of his troubles and his enemies and back onto God whom he sees as the Helper who can defeat his foes. He concludes this prayer by saying rejoice, take refuge in the Lord, and exult.

Rejoice! The Hebrew word for “rejoice” means to gladden, cheer up, and become gleesome. It is a happy word that teaches us to celebrate the goodness of God – even when the pressure from our enemies is bearing down on us. Notice that he says, rejoice "in the Lord.” It is not always possible to rejoice in your circumstances or situation. Sometimes situations become hard and stressful. It is not reasonable to always be glad about your situation. But it is totally reasonable to always rejoice in the Lord. Gladden and cheer up – the Lord is here, and He never changes! Your God is always a cause for rejoicing, even when troubles and enemies bear down on you. He is worth being glad about. So, dear follower of Christ, REJOICE!

Take refuge!  “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalm 118:8) When you take refuge in something, you are hiding yourself in its protection. In a pouring rain, for example, you might take refuge under a canopy or umbrella. During a tornado, the wise person takes refuge in the storm cellar. And during the storms of life, the wise person finds his/her "safe place" in the protective arms of God. Taking refuge in Him is finding a safe place where He can protect you during the stormy moments of your life. Taking refuge in Him means to transfer your troubles and cares off of yourself and placing them in His care. He is a mighty refuge for those who hide in Him. So, dear follower of Christ, TAKE REFUGE IN HIM!

Exult! The Hebrew word for “exult” means to make a visible show of celebration. The root word carries the idea of being “foolish in your show of boasting and giving praise.” Once we have taken refuge in Him and transferred our care to Him, there’s nothing left to do but boast about Him, celebrate Him, and give Him praise. This verse exhorts us not to do so quietly or secretly, but to elevate our celebration to a public show of praise to our amazing God. Don’t be afraid to look “foolish” – just exult in Him with a great display of pomp. Become a spectacle in your praise that others can see. So, dear follower of Christ, LET YOUR HEART EXULT IN HIM!