Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 19 & Psalm 64
David (like many of us) had an occasional tendency to be a complainer. In Psalm 64, 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. 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 shelter 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!
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