LIGHT AND JOY FOR UPRIGHT HEARTS

“LIGHT is sown for the righteous, and GLADNESS for the UPRIGHT in HEART” – Psalm 97:11

Psalm 97 highlights the significant rewards of LIGHT and JOY for UPRIGHT HEARTS: “LIGHT is sown for the righteous, and GLADNESS for the UPRIGHT in HEART” (Psa.97:11). This psalm – a Song of Praise to the Sovereign LORD – foreshadows the Messianic era when God will reign supreme over the earth. Its verses reference God’s sovereignty, His enactment of Justice, and the widespread rejoicing that will ensue. The Psalm begins with the declaration of Praise to the Reigning Lord: “The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice, let the multitudes of isles be glad” (v.1). The rest of the psalm reveals why it matters that the Lord reigns. That God reigns is sufficient reason to praise Him and be glad for all eternity. His reign should motivate the whole earth to rejoice.

Even the farthest reaches of the earth – “the multitudes of isles” – are to be glad and rejoice over God’s reign, not only in the New Millennium, but even now! The reign of the Lord is why we worship. God is sovereign and rules over the earth. The knowledge of this should cause Joy to all people, notwithstanding the seemingly pervading manoeuvres of the wicked! Verses 2 to 6 portray the Glory of the Almighty God with imageries of clouds and darkness, fire that goes up before Him, and how His lightings illuminate the world. The earth sees and trembles while the mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord. Two reactions follow among men. The idolatrous are put to shame, while God’s people – the Upright in heart – rejoice (vv.7-8). Verse 10 notes two reasons for rejoicing: The Lord preserves the souls of His saints; and delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Verse 11 affirms God’s promise of His Light to those who have committed to follow Him: “Light is sown [like seed] for the righteous and ILLUMINATES THEIR PATH, and [irrepressible] JOY [is spread] for the upright in heart [who delight in His favor and protection]” (v.11, AMP). This amplified version illustrates how God’s Light is sown along our pathway. Naturally, we want God to give us a floodlight of guidance, a complete blueprint, or a huge beacon that will beam brightly before us, night and day. We want to see everything about the future fully and immediately. However, God’s light of guidance is usually unveiled gradually, day-by-day, one step at a time, as we obey: “But the path of the just is as the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Pro.4:18).

Light is sown for the righteous. The righteous has a Right to Light, which starts like a seed that never ceases to bear fruit: “For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (Eph.5:9, NIV). Although the full harvest of delight is not yet ours, it is already sown for us; it is springing and will yet appear in fullness. The world’s Night will be over; God’s eternal Day will ultimately dawn! Even now, we have a foretaste of the dawning Day: “Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us” (Lk.1:78). This is the basis of our rejoicing “with Joy Inexpressible and full of glory” (1Pet.1:8).

Gladness is sown for the upright in heart. Gladness is not only for one upright person in the singular, but for the whole company of the upright. For example, Paul the apostle, after speaking of the crown of life laid up for himself, immediately amended his speech by adding, “and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Tim.4:8). The upright ought to be glad; have cause to be glad; and shall be glad. Those who are right hearted shall also be glad hearted. Right leads to light. In the troughs of Integrity lie the seeds of Joy and Gladness, which shall develop into a harvest of eternal bliss. The gospel of Jesus, wherever it goes, sows the whole earth with Joy for Believers in Christ – those who have obtained righteousness by faith and walk in Uprightness by Grace.