I came across the word “rejoice” four times this morning in my readings. Three times in Deuteronomy 12 . . . once in Psalm 66. And so, this morning, I’m thinking about God’s desire for us to rejoice. Be glad.

In Deuteronomy 12 Moses is instructing the people that, when they enter the land promised by God, He will also establish a place for their worship . . . a place where they are to offer their sacrifices. Moses exhorts Israel to “seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go” (12:5). And repeatedly in this passage, Moses instructs, “And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God” (12:7, 12, 18). And it seems to me that there’s an intent here that offerings of worship are to be accompanied with a spirit of rejoicing or gladness. Though it would become so, visits to the temple to offer sacrifice were not to be ritualistic but “rejoicing-istic.” The offering of sacrifice and the payment of vows, far from being the same old, same old, were to be acts which stirred a deep abiding joy within the worshiper . . . a gladness sourced not from the circumstance of life but from the worship of the Life-Giver.

If Deuteronomy 12 told me “what” should happen at the place of worship, then Psalm 66 stirred my heart with the “how”. “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!’ . . . Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him” (Ps. 66:1-6).

Deuteronomy speaks of rejoicing before Him . . . Psalm 66:6 tells us to rejoice in Him. We connect the dots between who He is . . . what He’s done . . . and where I am . . . and the result is rejoicing. He is awesome God . . . He is faithful God . . . He is the God who has brought us into relationship with Himself. And He is the God who will turn the sea into dry land in order to protect us. We may have . . . or may currently be . . . going through “fire and water” but He will bring us out to “rich fulfillment” (66:12). He is the One who preserves our lives and keeps our feet from slipping (66:9 NIV) . . . the One who has tested us and refined us as silver is refined (66:10). And its there . . . on the shores of the Red Sea . . . on the banks of the Jordan . . . in the crucible of refining . . . where we experience the sustaining reality of God’s presence . . . and know eventually the deliverance of our God . . . it’s there that we rejoice.

Our rejoicing is before Him because He is worthy of our praise. Our rejoicing is in Him because He owned us for Himself, sealed us with His Spirit, and infused us with His sustaining grace.

Oh, that His people might go to the place of worship determined to rejoice. That we might come determined to bring offerings . . . offerings of praise and worship that ascend as a sweet aroma . . . offerings born with hearts that are glad. Glad that He is God . . . glad that we are His people . . . glad that we have access into His most Holy Presence . . . glad that He hears when we pray . . . glad that He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

Make joyful shouts to God . . . Sing out the honor due His name . . . Make His praise glorious . . . rejoice . . . be glad! For His glory . . . Amen.