isa 61v10 Children Of God Rejoice
CHILDREN OF GOD, REJOICE!
Isaiah 61:10
Isaiah had seen and experienced
many things that caused him grief and pain. He was acutely aware of his own sin
and the sins of his countrymen. The prophet of God knew the judgment and
desolation that would fall upon his people from the Lord, because of their
unbelief. But he had heard the Lord Christ declare how that, in spite of all
the evil which would surely come, he would gather his own elect to himself and
establish his righteousness and his salvation in the earth (Isa. 61:1-9). Then,
taking God at his Word, the prophet declared, "I will greatly rejoice in
the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God." Children of God, you and I
ought to follow the prophet's example. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice!" I do not suggest that
we should look upon our trials and afflictions as fatalistic stoics, without
feeling or emotion. Nor am I promoting the modern "positive thinking
gospel", which says, "Ignore your troubles,
and they will go away. Think positively and you can overcome anything."
Such teachings are popular. They are pleasant to the carnal ear. But they are
both foolish and irresponsible. But I am saying this - As men and women who are
redeemed, justified, pardoned, and saved by the grace of God in Christ, as men
and women who live by faith in Christ, WE CAN AND SHOULD REJOICE IN THE
LORD, ALWAYS AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. I am not calling for a superficial,
pretentious, hypocritical show of joy. I am calling for real, true, sincere,
heart-felt joy, arising from a believing knowledge of God in Christ. I do not
suggest that we should rejoice in our trials; but I do say that we should
rejoice IN THE LORD in the midst of our trials. Though our hearts are aching
and our eyes are weeping, faith still rejoices in the Lord. I cannot rejoice in
my sorrows; but I can rejoice in my Savior. I cannot rejoice in my grief; but I
can rejoice in my God. I cannot rejoice in my pain; but I can rejoice in his
providence. I cannot rejoice in my loss; but I can rejoice in his love.
It is not only true that we can and should rejoice in the Lord, but faith has much reason to
rejoice.
I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD ‑ BECAUSE HE HAS GIVEN ME A DIVINE CLOTHING.
"He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation." From head to
foot, I am clothed with God's salvation. All the garments of salvation were
tailored by God himself for my soul, and he put them upon me (Ez. 16:8-9). In
Christ I am redeemed, pardoned, and accepted before God. Children of God, you
have the livery of God upon you! Neither the dark, cold nights of sorrow, nor
the burning sun of affliction can harm you. I WILL REJOICE IN MY GOD,
BECAUSE HE HAS PLACED UPON ME A DIVINE COVERING. "He hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness." There is but one robe of righteousness.
It was completely woven by the Lord Jesus Christ in his life of perfect
obedience to God as my Representative. God himself has placed that robe of
Christ's righteousness upon me, by virtue of His sin-atoning sacrifice at
Tell me, you who know the Lord,
will you not rejoice in him? Let us be glad and rejoice, the Lord our God, he
is God! Let us honor and magnify him by our joy in him. Rejoice in all that God
is. Rejoice in all that God has done. Rejoice in all that God is doing. Rejoice
in all that God has sworn to do. "Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice!"