THE UPRIGHT HEART (3)

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you UPRIGHT in HEART” – Psalm 32:11

God craves and cherishes the lively rejoicing and shouts of Joy from righteous and UPRIGHT HEARTS: ““Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, you righteous: and shout for joy, all you that are UPRIGHT in HEART” (Psa.32:11). Psalm 32 centres on the Joy of Forgiveness. Throughout Scripture, God pours out His oil of gladness on those who have learned to hate their sin and love His righteousness. This is a key dimension of uprightness which Jesus modelled for us: “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the OIL of GLADNESS more than Your companions" (Heb. 1:9).

Consistently in the Psalms, Joy and Gladness are associated with uprightness, hatred for sin, and a love for righteousness:

“The righteous shall the GLAD in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the UPRIGHT in HEART shall glory” (Psa.64:10).

“But let the RIGHTEOUS be GLAD; Let them REJOICE before God; Yes, let them REJOICE exceedingly” (Psa. 68:3).

“REJOICE in the LORD, you RIGHTEOUS, And give thank at the remembrance of His holy name” (Psa.97:12).

Due to the blight of Sin and humanity’s fall into the web of iniquity, the world is naturally not a joyful place. Everywhere one looks, there appears to be trouble. The news, especially in this digital age, is filled with negative events, violence, wars, unrest, murders, crimes, suffering, deception, wickedness, man’s inhumanity to man, and more. Most people are walking in fear of their lives, fear of being robbed, raped, maimed, or killed. Poverty, diseases, debt, divorce, depression and more, plague the lives of multitudes. Finding something to be happy about seems to be elusive to many people in the world. They look to alcohol, drugs, comedians, and a variety of entertainment to find a place to laugh and be happy. They seek things to remove them from the troubles in this world.

On his part, David found a reason to rejoice and be glad with a song in the heart. He had many struggles and troubles throughout his life, yet he would rejoice and sing songs of praise to God. He found forgiveness from God, obtained righteousness, and experienced the blessedness of an upright heart: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (vv.1-2). Prior to acknowledging his sins, he endured groaning and heaviness of heart (vv.3-5). Thereafter, the Lord delivered him from “a flood of great waters” (v.6). The Lord became his “hiding place,” preserved him from trouble, and surrounded him with songs of deliverance” (v.7).

With forgiveness in place, Divine Instruction is assured: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (v.8). We are however responsible to obey or disobey (v.9). Jesus promised us His Peace and Joy amidst the world’s woes: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid….These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jh.14:27; 16:33). The world offers much trouble, pain and suffering; but the Believer in Christ has reasons to rejoice. Apart from the Victory that our Lord Jesus obtained on Calvary’s Cross and by His Resurrection, every pain and suffering here on this earth is temporary. It will only last for a short time in light of eternity.

As we appreciate its value, receiving forgiveness empowers us to rejoice and be glad regardless of what troubles we encounter in life. It puts a song of praise on our lips. The greatest trouble – eternal death – shall be wiped away, never to be our portion! We have a right to sing, shout and rejoice in the Lord – because we have a Father who forgives, redeems, and saves to the uttermost!