PSALM 89:15-18: “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. 17 For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. 18 For our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.”
OBSERVATION: The Psalmist writes these words in the midst of the fall of Judah. He remembers the blessedness of the Covenant when Israel walked with the Lord and when the throne of David was established. He refers to the “joyful sound”. The “joyful sound” was the sound of worship and praise as the children of Israel would travel to Jerusalem on pilgrimage for the three great festivals in their religious calendar. It was the sound of the hearts of God’s people united in faith, obedience, and praise. It was a sound that was no longer heard in the cities of Judah. Yet, it is a sound that reminded the Psalmist of the promises of God’s Covenant.
When we walk in obedience to the Lord, when our hearts are filled with this “joyful sound”, we experience the wonderful blessings of the Lord. The Lord directs our paths in the light of His countenance. We clearly hear His voice saying – “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Our hearts and minds are sustained throughout the day with the peace that passes all human understanding in Christ Jesus. When we stumble and fall, He picks us up. His favor and love upon our lives continually strengthens us. As we humble ourselves before the Lord – He exalts us. He is our shield and our help in the midst of all the storms of life. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us and died for us. Jesus is our King!
Like listening to a station on the radio this “joyful sound” is not automatic. With a radio you must be tuned into the proper frequency to get the station clearly, without static. If we want to hear the “joyful sound” and walk in its’ benefits we must also tune our hearts fully into the Lord. We do this as we direct our hearts and minds to His Word. We do this as we turn away from the wisdom and call of the world and toward the high upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. We choose to fill our lives with good things, things that lift us toward a heavenly pursuit and focus. As we do this – we hear the “joyful sound” and we walk in the blessings of sweet fellowship with the Father and Jesus through the Holy Spirit. There is nothing more wonderful, beautiful, and melodic than this.
Lord, help me turn my heart and mind fully toward You, Your Word, and Your ways. Give me both grace and wisdom to choose that which is good, virtuous, truthful, noble, just, and holy. May my life, my thoughts, and my actions be captivated and transformed by Your “joyful sound”. In Jesus Name!
