Gospel Reflections #1134: It is a joy in ‘the very being of the Lord’.

Psalm 9:1–2 ‘I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all your wondrous deeds. I will rejoice and be glad in you, O Most High; I will sing praise to your name.’

This is a very powerful scripture that expresses absolute trust in God, along with heartfelt, overflowing gratitude and praise.

David says he gives thanks ‘with all his heart (with all his being)’.

This does not mean a mere formality or empty words, but a state in which one turns to God, pouring out one’s entire being—one’s emotions, intellect and will.

It teaches us to acknowledge God’s very existence and give thanks from the heart, not only when things are going well, but in every circumstance of life.

It also conveys a strong resolve to share ‘without exception (all)’ the salvation, miracles and grace that God has bestowed upon him and the people of Israel in the past with others.

By not keeping this grace to oneself but putting it into words and passing it on, God’s glory spreads to the next generation and to those around us.

The joy referred to here is not a ‘situational joy’ arising from favourable circumstances or the fulfilment of a wish.

It is a joy in ‘the very being of the Lord’.

Even in the midst of hardship, a deep joy wells up—so profound that the soul leaps for joy—because of the conviction that God is on one’s side and is the righteous Judge. 

The title ‘the Most High’ signifies that God dwells in a place far higher than all the powers and rulers of this world, and that He is the absolute Sovereign who governs all things.

By praising His ‘Name’, we express our faith in entrusting the sovereignty of our lives entirely to God.

These two verses list four active resolutions: ‘to give thanks’, ‘to proclaim’, ‘to rejoice’ and ‘to sing praises’.

This psalm teaches us that it is not because something good has happened that we praise God; rather, when we first ‘choose to praise and give thanks to the Lord’, our hearts are filled with true peace and joy. 

It is by seeking God Himself—rather than His miracles—that we can build a relationship with Him; and within that relationship, we are led to ‘give thanks’, ‘proclaim’, ‘rejoice’ and ‘sing His praises’.

All this is not by our own strength, but by the power of God’s love.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.