Psalm 48:11
When a judge announces his decision, it is always in one party's favor and against another party. Both sides await the judge's decision; but only one side will be glad and rejoice in the decision. When God in His righteousness announces His decision in the day of Christ, His whole church is going to rejoice and sing in gladness.
Of this we read in Psalm 48:11 in these words: "Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments." Mount Zion here refers to the entire church of God. God's people everywhere. All the believers are going to and have reason to sing (PRC Psalter):
Thy hand is full of righteousness
Let Zion's gladness then be great,
And let her daughters sing for joy
And all Thy judgments celebrate.
In the day when Christ returns, this will be realized in full. But in this life already we have reason to be glad and rejoice in God's judgments. The cross of Christ, His resurrection, and ascension up into heaven announced God's judgment in our favor. That cross declared that He was forsaken of God because of our sins. His resurrection reveals that He succeeded in blotting them out. His ascension up into heaven tells us where we are going to go. We are not there yet: but God has clearly announced His judgment that we will be with Him in glory.
Now we do have fears and doubts, because we still have our old man of sin whose works God in righteous judgment condemns. When, however, we by faith look at Christ both as far as what He did and where He now is, we have reason to rejoice and be glad. We know that we can anticipate judgment day joy that will be forever and will be boundless.
Listen then to the words of the psalmist when be tells us to rejoice and be glad. Wipe away the tears from your eyes. See your sins, but look also to Christ. On the day you die, believe that also to you He will say, "Today shalt Thou be with Me in paradise."
Read: Revelation 20
Psalter versification: #132:3
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #161
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Ezekiel 44 ; Ezekiel 45:1-12
1 Peter 1:1-12
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 28:8-10
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Quote for Reflection:
… There are various burdens which delay and impede our spiritual course, such as the love of this present life, the pleasures of the world, the lusts of the flesh, worldly cares, riches also and honors, and other things of this kind. Whosoever, then, would run in the course prescribed by Christ, must first disentangle himself from all these impediments, for we are already of ourselves more tardy than we ought to be, so no other causes of delay should be added. - John Calvin
Additional Info
- Date: 22-November
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.