Today’s Reading: Psalm 35
Our Lord delights in the
welfare of his servant! This thought alone should cause us to “shout for joy
and be glad!” Psalm 35 is a song by David where he is rejoicing in
the work of God turning the tables on those who are pursuing him without a
cause. He prays that the Lord will continue to contend with those who fight
against him.
Throughout this joyful
Psalm, David uses words of rejoicing and praise: “rejoice in the Lord”;
“exulting in His salvation”; “I will praise you”; “shout for joy”; “be glad”;
“great is the Lord”. David acknowledged the hand of God upon his situation and
it brought his heart to a place of shouting for joy.
The word “shout” in this verse is the Hebrew word “rānan” which means to give a ringing cry, to address in a
loud tone, to triumph, to shout, to still, to command, to glory. This is
a shouting praise. You don’t sing it, you shout it! A shout commands our
victory. It stills the enemy. This kind of praise is a battle cry; a cry of
victory. Sports fans may recognize this as similar to the shout of victory they
express when their team makes the final out of the ninth inning in a decisive
victory. Shout for joy! Loudly!
When was the last time
you “shouted for joy” to the Lord? I mean really let loose and gave a ringing
cry of praise to our God? In today’s Psalm, David is calling for all those who
delight in his vindication (“righteousness”) to give a mighty shout of praise
to God. In the same way, God calls all of us who love His workings in our lives
to shout for joy unto Him.
In the words of the song
by Hillsong, we are exhorted to shout our praise to God, “Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing.
Power and majesty, praise to the King. Mountains bow down and the seas will
roar at the sound of Your name. I sing for joy at the work of Your hands.
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I
have In You.” *
So,
take a moment today to SHOUT for JOY like David to the Lord. Praise Him for
delighting in your welfare and defending you from your
enemies. Remember, we are commanded in Psalm 100:1 to “Shout
for joy to the Lord, all
the earth.”
* “Shout to the Lord” lyrics © 1993,
Wondrous Worship, admin. Music Services.
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