GOD MY EXCEEDING JOY

David begins his song, “The king shall joy in thy strength, 0 Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice”, v. 1.

A king has more to rejoice in than most people: wealth, power and comfort such as few enjoy. But David found his joy in God Himself. “We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation”, Rom. 5. 11 R.V. Here the word “rejoice” (“joy” A.V.) means to exult, to boast.

Maybe a boy joys in his collection of foreign stamps or other hobby; then he joys in athletic achievements or examination successes; later, in manhood, in his business and family. But the believer in the Lord Jesus rejoices supremely in Him, the Giver of every ability and greater than all His gifts.

How much God had done for David, making him the king of all Israel. How much more has God done for us!, “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”, Eph. 3. 20. His response to the repentant sinner in the forgiveness of sins is but the beginning of blessings innumerable and eternal. So our heart must therefore rejoice in the Lord.

This joy is not something merely emotional, such as is stirred by musical instruments. King Saul was calmed by David’s harp, but he remained a murderer still. Most folk experience superficial and transient joys. But the apostle Paul, who knew the most painful of sufferings, described his life as “sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing”, 2 Cor. 6. 10; and he confidently urged his brethren to “Rejoice evermore”, 1 Thess. 5. 16. Circumstances change; even friends change. But the Lord says, “I am the Lord, I change not”, Mal. 3. 6. So we can say, “Rejoice in the Lord alway”, Phil. 4. 4.

Finally, let joy find expression in outspoken thanksgiving and praise. “Is any merry?”, asks James, “let him sing psalms”, James 5. 13. Thus our psalm ends with praise, “Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power”, v. 13.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”, Phil. 4. 4.