10/12/2022
God is our refuge not merely because we trust in Him, but because we rejoice in Him. We aren’t meant to simply be deliberate in our service of the Lord, no, we are meant to be exuberant, joyful, and triumphant towards Him, and in everything He does for us. How can we serve our Heavenly Father, or even our earthly one, out of love if there is no joy or emotion exhibited towards them as we do so? In everything we are to be thankful to God, and in our thanks there should be love, and we should exult in Him. Do we rejoice in our God when He has provided us with refuge, and stood guard over us against all enemies, and every worldly harm?
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
Psalm 5:11 ESV
Too many of us think of God only as a stoic figure who judges us, or as serious and devoid of emotion. We are inclined to feel that He protects us out of duty, and we become entrenched in this one view of our Father. This is the way that many begin to imitate Him, but He rejoices over us just as He desires us to joyfully sing and celebrate Him.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Because our Father loves us he shows us His mercy, protects us, covers us with His grace, and has sent His Son Jesus to redeem us from sin and death. He can do this because He is all powerful, and capable, but moreover, He does so in a spirit of love, and exultation.
“The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.”
Zephaniah 3:15 ESV
We have read the word exult twice today in our scripture references, and it is a strong word of emotion that means to show triumphant jubilation and elation, but biblically it also means to rejoice, and to glorify God. Do we show these emotions toward the Lord when He protects us, or we take refuge in Him?
This word, exult, can easily be confused with the word exalt, but although they look and sound similar they are very different in meaning. The word exalt means to regard someone in high esteem or to raise them up to high rank. In one Bible translation there is an example where both of these words are used in one passage of verse, but let’s read it in the King James, and I will add the two words in brackets…
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify [exalt] the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced [exulted] in God my Saviour.”
Luke 1:46-47 KJV
In this example we see that we can both exalt and exult God and that they mean very different things, so let’s go back to our opening verse and read it again in full understanding…
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice [exult]; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
Psalm 5:11 ESV
We see that we are told twice in this verse to exult… once by using the word rejoice, and then a second time by using the word exult; once as we take refuge, and the other linking love to our rejoicing as we do. We are told here to show strong emotion by the use of repetition. So how do we react in our own lives when God becomes our refuge? Do we fall at His feet and weep out of relief, or do we sing for joy out of our abundance of love for Him, and having trusted in His protection?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being our refuge in every storm, and we pray that you will hear us as we sing your praises above the wind, and exult you as we celebrate your love and kindness towards us… and as we offer our own love towards you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God to whom we shout in joy, and raise our voices in song. Praised be your name for your protection, provision, and rescue. Merciful are you who redeems us and does so joyfully, and in the fullness of your love and kindness. You wash us in the blood of your Son Jesus, and cleanse us of all sin. You judge us, but not out of your wrath, but lovingly, and desiring that we all have lived righteously. We pray that you find us worthy and look forward to exalting you before all of creation, and long to exult you in song, and joyful praise. We sing of our love for you, now, and forevermore… our God, and eternal refuge.
“Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:14, 17 KJV
Rich Forbes