“Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.” Psalm 149:5

Psalm 149
Like a stream after a heavy rain, the final chapters in the book of Psalms overflow with praise. Psalm 149 says the godly are rejoicing, dancing, exulting in glory, even singing for joy on their beds! “Why their beds?” you might ask. Well, why not? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be so filled with joy that you couldn’t help but sing God’s praise, even from your bed? The image of such happy people makes me smile.
But I know our beds aren’t always a place for singing. Sometimes we cry there like David, who said in Psalm 6:6, “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears.”
So how do we get from tears of sorrow to songs of praise? There’s one way: through faith in Jesus, who endured utter sorrow to give us perfect salvation. Apart from Christ, Martin Luther said, asking for joy is like “telling water to catch fire.” But in Christ, “joy will follow of its own accord.” This happens imperfectly in this life—joy and sorrow are mixed. But in the last, eternal chapter, Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes.



Scripture Focus

Psalm 149

Insight

“A Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot.” (St. Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.)

Bible In A Year

  • Isaiah 41-42
  • Psalm 91
  • Acts 14

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