In Psalm 5:11, we read: "But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee."
Perhaps you think it is strange to think of rejoicing as a Christian duty, but you will find that the Scriptures do contain many commands to rejoice (in fact, I Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to "Rejoice evermore"), and it is interesting that many of these are given in circumstances of grief or danger.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words from a Roman dungeon -- "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)
In the upper room, the night before He was to die on the cross, Jesus said to His disciples -- "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:11)
In the next chapter, Jesus said: "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." (John 16:2) And again, in the 24th verse, Jesus said: "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
If David could rejoice while fleeing from his enemies who wanted to kill him -- if Paul could rejoice and sing praises at midnight while he was chained unjustly in a Roman prison -- if the disciples could experience fullness of joy when facing martyrdom -- and if Jesus Himself, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2), then perhaps our Christian duty of rejoicing in all circumstances may not be such an absurd command after all.
And as we look to the coming Lord's Day, may we remember that "the joy of the Lord is our strength."
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