Worship with Joy

“The Lord is good” (5)! With these words we lift our heads above our individual struggles and woes and come in imagination to the Temple. “All the earth” is invited (1). You are probably reading this alone at home, but as you read imagine yourself coming in a great, joyful crowd. You are probably reading silently, but in imagination shout and sing (1,2)! This is exuberant, joyful worship.

The other nations round about worshipped gods who were territorial, vengeful, unpredictable, remote and unconcerned with humankind. Our God revealed himself to Moses not only as “just and right,” as we noted in Psalm 99, but also as one whose love and faithfulness endure forever (5). The two words “love” and “faithfulness” are often found in the Old Testament in conjunction with the words “justice” and “righteousness” that we looked at in Psalm 99.

God loves us! His love (variously translated “mercy,” “steadfast love,” “loving-kindness”) is not like the human love that evaporates when the lover finds a more attractive object for his or her affections, or turns its back in anger when the person loved offends. The Israelites did not constantly need to worry about losing God’s affection. His love is constant and faithful. It is covenant love. When we sin and repent, God forgives. Maybe human relationships have scarred us. Come to your heavenly Father and learn what love can be.

No wonder there is joy. This joy, like the Father’s love, is not like its human counterpart. It is not dependent on transient blessings. It is based on our covenant relationship with the God who loves us. Nothing can take away this joy from the believer.

One word: Rejoice!