Remembering God's Holiness

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.  Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 97:11-12

Do we rejoice in Christ?  Christians, we know, must expect tribulation in the world.  They must suffer by its malice; but light is sown for them; gladness is prepared for them.  At the appointed time God's goodness will be sure of a harvest.  Those who sow in tears shall, without fail, reap in joy.  When parting, Christ told His disciples:  "You shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall be turned into joy."  Gladness is sure to the upright in heart, to those who are sincere in religion.  The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment.  Therefore, without lasting sincerity there is no joy and gladness.

Here are rules for our joy.  It must be pure and holy.  If we love Christ, if we love His kingdom, if we love His people, if we love His Word--we will hate evil and everything that is offensive to Him.  A true love to God will show itself in a real hatred of all sin.  Our joy must culminate in God:  "Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous."  All the streams of comfort flowing to us from Christ's kingdom will cause us to rejoice in the Lord.  Our joy must express itself in praise and thanksgiving:  "Give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness."  Very often we ought to remember God's holiness, His purity, and the perfection of the divine nature.  As David said:  "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness."

~Matthew Henry, from Moments of Meditation