JOYFUL SAINTS

SCRIPTURE MEDITATIONS By W. F. Bell
Psalm 37:1-4; Psalm 104:33-34; I Thessalonians 5:16

"Delight yourself also in the Lord" (Psalm 37:4). "And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness" (Psalm 105:43). We live in a world of awful sin and much bad news. But beloved, we must not dwell upon it, for Scripture commands us, "Fret not yourself because of evil doers" (Psalm 37:1). Those who are "delighting" themselves in the Lord Jesus Christ truly feed on better things than the sad events and bad news of this world. God-fearing people don't find cause for joy in any cesspool of iniquity, or in any of mankind's bad news (and we don't understand those who want to feed on it every single day).

Isn't it rare to meet a truly joyful person? (What about you and I?) The ills of society have rubbed us all the wrong way, and it is easy to complain and be bitter about our circumstances. But, let us "look again" at the wonderful Word of God, meditating in these glorious truths: "I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord" (Psalm 104:33-34). How's that for true, holy, positive thinking? "I will sing." "Unto the Lord." "My meditation of Him." "Shall be sweet." "I will be glad." In who? Yes, "In the Lord." Meditating on Christ is not "sour," but "sweet." It does not make us "sad," but "glad." Seeing King Jesus "by faith" is the greatest sight a sinner can have in this mortal life (John 20:20, 29). Have we truly seen "the glory of Christ" in the gospel?

Charles Spurgeon comments on Psalm 104: "We never sing so well as when we know that we have an interest in the good things of which we sing, and a relationship to the God whom we praise....Meditation is the soul of religion. It is the tree of life in the midst of the garden of piety, and very refreshing is its fruit to the soul which feeds thereon." Beloved, have we lost our song? Even in our night of sin, God will give us "songs in the night" (Job 35:10; Psalm 42:8). Christ Jesus Himself, even though "a Man of Sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3), once "rejoiced in spirit" (Luke 10:21), praising His Father's sovereign good pleasure, stating "All things are delivered to me of my Father" (Luke 10:22). We too rejoice in the sovereignty of God, even when we do not understand His mysterious providences, His holy chastisements, or the numerous sins of wicked men.

Let us return to singing! Let us return to holy meditation! Let us return to rejoicing in this great truth: "The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works" (Psalm 104:31). Let us return to clapping and shouting: "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1). Why? This is what makes us whole, healthy Christians! "For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding" (Psalm 47:7).

Our God is the Most High! Our God rules and reigns! "He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet" (Psalm 47:2-3). Does this not bring us true joy? "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psalm 103:1). "Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord" (Psalm 105:3). "Rejoice evermore" (I Thessalonians 5:16). Yes, despite a world of sin, let us not become bitter, but better -- better at praising our Lord Jesus Christ, and better at remembering that a day is coming when "sinners shall be consumed out of the earth" (Psalm 104:35), and "the trail of the serpent is cleansed from the globe."

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

"The greatest happiness of my life is that I am loved by the Lord Jesus and can fellowship with Him every day." Andrew Murray