MAKE A CHOICE TO REJOICE

There is much debate about the context of this psalm. Was it written by David when he built his palace, or written (by faith) in anticipation of the building of the Temple? Whatever the uncertainty about the context, there can be no doubt about David’s climactic conclusions, contained in verses 11 and 12. David describes two glorious actions of God. In the first, God turned his “wailing into dancing” (11). This is a transformation of the heart, expressed in action. God has lifted the heavy weight from David’s heart, one that caused him to mourn, and in its place has given him the power of dance through the reality of heavenly joy! The second action is even more dramatic, removing David’s sackcloth and clothing him with joy. God did not just remove but tore away the garments of grief and then clothed David with life and hope.

The purpose is that David may “sing… and not be silent (12). God wanted to hear the praise of his servant rather than the silence of his grief, a confession that comes when holy hope is injected into the heart of pain.

Many years later, two men lay in a prison cell after being beaten and unfairly accused for the cause of Christ. At midnight, instead of letting their bruises scream or their pain drum the beat, they were “praying and singing hymns to God,” and all of the other prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25). Paul and Silas, just like David, had experienced an inner transformation, and, although they could not dance, they made a choice to rejoice, letting their voices scale the prison walls and release them (at least on the inside) from their chains. Though hundreds of years apart, their confession was the same, “Lord my God, I will praise you forever” (12).

How can you make a choice to trust and rejoice in God through the pain? How have you experienced our turn-a-round God?