Rejoice in the Lord

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him…Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together.” -Psalm 98:1, 8 (ESV).

We are eager to go to the Lord in prayer with our requests when troubles, illnesses, distress and calamity arise. And well we should, for our God is a problem-solving God. We spend time before Him asking that He intervene and make right the situations that trouble us, the challenges with which we need help. But when positive answers come—or even if the challenges are not removed but we gain strength to bear them—do we pray with as much fervor and intensity as when we are making petitions for God to change situations?

The Psalmist expressed such exuberance in his rejoicing: “Sing a new song to the Lord, for He has done marvelous things!...Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together” Rejoice! Tied up in the word “rejoice” is a depth of meaning. “Re” means again; and the root, “joice” (from “joie”) means to take great delight in. It is said of the composer Johann Sebastian Bach that before he considered composing a new piece of music, he would pray that his composition would honor and glorify the Lord God.

In our praying, we should learn to rejoice mightily. Even if our prayers are not answered in the way we think they should be, there is always cause for rejoicing. In life and opportunity and a new day, there are reasons to rejoice. What will be my new song today, your new song today? Will we be able to see “the rivers clap their hands, the hills sing for joy together?” Rejoice! God has given us so many blessings to enjoy. Even amidst troubles we face, His presence and comfort are reasons to rejoice.

Paul wrote, admonishing Christians: “Rejoice evermore…In everything give thanks (rejoice), for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). In this Lord’s day, rejoice with other Christians. Exult in your salvation, in knowing the Lord Christ.

Rejoice in the freedom to worship and to peacefully assemble to study God’s Word and to hear lofty music and a sermon of instruction and admonition. Rejoice, for this is comely and an honor to God from whom flow blessings unnumbered. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 08.06.2017