If I’m going to get all up close and personal with JOY (see #6), I want to know what is embracing me. Right? I’ve turned to the Psalms for a little help.
David writes of the Lord, You’ve loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness (Psalm 30:11). Joy is like something we wear. Joy’s embrace becomes our garment. Not only do we get clothed with gladness (joy), we get stripped of our sackcloth (heavy, irritating, smelly, death clothes). Joy clothes are not just a cover-up, they are a complete exchange. God doesn’t do things halfway. The old is gone and the new takes over, and the new is JOY.
Bonus! David adds the why in verse 12, so that my glory may sing your praises and not be silent. This exchange of deathwear for joywear happens so all of our glory will praise the name of the Lord. Remember #4, joy praises? Joy can’t be contained, it cannot be silenced. Our glory sings his praises.
Double Bonus! This entire Psalm was a song at the dedication of the temple. Briefly, (after all, these are supposed to be simple thoughts) we are the temple of the Lord now. I can’t help but wonder if part of our dedication to the Lord is surrendering to his glorious joy. Wearing his covering like a coat of many colors…banner of love…yoke…garment of praise.
How will you wear joy today? How will you sing of his praises?
Brave Sparrow 