O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Psalms 43: 3-4.
Is not one of the fruit of God’s spirit in us joy? If you can’t find sadness and sorrow in the fruit of the spirit of God, there is no sadness and sorrow in God. Therefore, you should not be overwhelmed with sorrow and sadness; though for now, this is inevitable because of the fall of man living in a world subjected to bondage and corruption until the glorious manifestation of the sons of God
There has never been and will never be a dull moment with God or a dull moment in heaven. It is a place of eternal joy of an unceasing adorations, worships and appreciations unto him that lives forever and ever.
The twenty four elders, the angels in heaven, the living creatures and anything imaginable existing in heaven are worshiping, praising and celebrating the God who not only dwells in the midst of the praises of his people, but dwells eternally in the atmosphere of an infinite joy in his abode.
Regardless of their duties, all the creatures in heaven are happy creatures, rejoicing and worshipping the God of creation, celebrating and singing of his excellent greatness. They constantly proclaiming the holiness of God, and unceasingly announcing his justice, while fulfilling the will of their creator, their exceeding joy. Note: God is the chief joy and the eternal celebrant in heaven. He should also be your chief joy because you are called to show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Believer who will not make him their chief joy on earth, also fall under the same condemnation and destruction awaiting Lucifer who once had the opportunity to make him his exceeding joy by the reason of his workmanship, the purpose of his unique creation, but he lost the battle in his quest to become the chief joy in heaven, desired to take the place of God.
David discovered God at the early stage of his lonely adventurous life while tending his father’s flock in the wilderness. He found God to be everything to him – his father, God, trust, strength, shield, buckler, deliverer, refuge, high tower, song, salvation, glory and the lifter up of his head.
David found God to be dependable and unfailing in all things. He had experienced divine faithfulness which reaches unto the clouds, - perceived divine righteousness like the great mountains, - and God’s judgments are a great deep – found God to be the preserver of man and beasts, while he partakes from the excellent loving-kindness of God, while should he not be his exceeding joy? Note: those who will not found their utter satisfaction and contentment in God, though, they are made to drink from the river of his pleasure, they shall never found him as their exceeding God, but shall perish in the way like the children of the Israel were wasted in the wilderness, because they trusted not in his salvation and believed not in his word - How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shall make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. Psalms 36:7-8. Psalms 78:22.
The phrase ‘God my exceeding joy’ means God is the source of David’s joy and his sole joy is found in him.
He found God as his invisible, mighty and heavily presence companionship in his dangerous experiences where it was this God that rescues him from the hands of lions and other ferocious animals and from all dangers.
Hence, he further wrote, Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, let the people of Zion be glad in their King, Meaning, let them also make him their exceeding joy. Psalms 149:2. Note: those who will not make God their exceeding joy, shall not be taken up to climb the Rock that is higher than them in the times of trouble, unable and blinded by their unbelief to see him at the centre of every situations, that God is beautiful for every situations in their life shall fail in the day of adversity. The shall fall short of the strength which can be found from the joy of the Lord, overwhelmed and overcome by any little or great stress and challenges of life, and be defeated and overpowered by Satan. Psalms 61:2-4.
The phrase ‘God my exceeding joy’ not only means that God is the source of David’s joy, but his sole joy, meaning, God means the entire world to David, without any condition, hence, he was able to say, that the Lord is his portion in the land of the living. Psalms 142:5.
Take away everything from David, but you can’t separate him from the God, his exceeding joy. Try to do anything to hurt David, he will only asked the God of his exceeding joy to turn the counsels of the wise of this world into foolishness.
‘God my exceeding joy’ shows that the happiness he found in his intimacy and relationship with God is superior to other sources of joy man can have from the material world or of any achievements on earth. This was the reason he danced with all his might before God, dressed in linen ephod, instead of his royal robe in honor to celebrate the God of his exceeding joy, when the ark of God came into the city of David from the house of Obededom, leaping and dancing before the Lord like a crazy or a drunken man. Instead of joining her husband to celebrate God, but was abused, insulted and despised by his wife, Michal, the daughter of King Saul. For the vengeance of his praise, and for humiliation of his servant, the Lord shut her womb, that she died childless. 2 Samuel 6:12-21.
David found God as his invisible helper and mighty companionship in his dangerous experiences where it was this God that rescues him from the hands of lions and other ferocious animals. He delivered him from the hand of Saul and from all his enemies. This made God his exceeding joy, his refuge and strength, a very present help, in times of need.
Who will not, upon discovery such amazing supernatural presence and encounter, made such a God his exceeding joy? Hence, he further wrote, Let Israel rejoices in him that made him, let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Psalms 149:2.
There’s no false joy or over estimation of rejoicing over the things freely given by God to enjoy in moderation for his glory: If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. Job 31:25-28.
First, this was a powerful discovery of David about God as his exceeding joy, and he loves to sing praises unto him always, for praise is comely.
The discovery was the inspiration to write numerous psalms unto the praises and exaltation of God, his exceeding joy, with the blessing of the honorable title bestowed upon him as the sweet psalmist of Israel. 2 Samuel 23:1.
Second, this is a revelation of God unto David, the man after the heart of God, that God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26.
Why do certain people get frustrated, annoyed, murmured and complaint in difficulty and in any little things that comes against them? Because God is not their exceeding joy! Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice. Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do. Remember that the Lord is coming soon. Philippians 4:4-5.
David once said, thou – God hast put gladness in my heart, more than they have when their grain and their new wine are increased. Psalms 4:7.
This is David’s expression of satisfaction and contentment in God, even when things are not going and appearing as he hoped for. He often asked himself, why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within me? Because I have made him the God of my exceeding joy, hope thou in God, put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
If God is your exceeding joy, why should you be speaking negative words on your life to your own detriment when things are not going your ways? If God is your exceeding joy, why should you be saddened, envious and angry at the prosperity of the wicked or at the rejoicing and triumphing of the hypocrites which is for a little time?
God does not have any pleasure in the death of a sinner, but this has nothing to do with his divine nature of being a joyful – joyous God.
By the way, he that sits in the heavens, though he’s angry at the wicked for their inconsideration against others every day (Psalms 7:11), but he also laughs at the foolishness of the foolish and the wickedness of the wicked each day. Psalms 2:4.
How long shall you continue to mourn for Saul? This was God’s question to Samuel!
You can weep and mourn with those that weep and mourn, but it shouldn’t spoilt or be in any wise destroys the manifestations of an increasing and unending joy of God’s presence in your life. Note: certain rejoicing in God is sinful and an interdiction when the believer’s eyes have seen his desire, and his ears have heard his desires on the enemy that rises up against him: lest, by his rejoicing, the Lord should turn away and shortens the measure of the cup of his wrath and vengeance on him. Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbles: lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Proverbs 24:17-18.
David wept and made lamentations over Saul and Jonathan his son in their death. It is the man of a wicked heart in the Lord who will celebrate the calamity of others: whosoever is glad at calamity shall not go unpunished. Proverbs 17:5. Note: though the justice and righteous judgment of God must prevail against them that trouble us: it is not of us to rejoice in the Lord for such divine judgmental visitation on our enemies.
We cannot discover the joy of the Lord or the joy in him if we are not in relationship and intimacy with him. Above all, we must walk daily to cultivate the fruit of joy and harvest it daily for God to be our exceeding joy in all things.
We cannot experience the fullness and profoundness of divine joy, if we are not constantly in attendance or to appear before him in the assembly of his saints: in his presence is fullness of joy, and at his right hand, pleasure forevermore. For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26.
There was a time in Abraham’s relationship with God when he was reminded that Jehovah was his shield and exceeding (magnificent) great reward. In this case, God told Abraham that his walk and life of faith are not in vain. He will be the source of a great reward to his servant, and will make up for Abraham’s selfless life of faith before him. Genesis 15:1.
From our text this morning, it was King David who reminded God of who he was to him, - his exceeding joy! In other words, David was saying, it was not about what you will give me or what you have given me. Though I rejoice and were thankful for those; but I am completely and exceeding glad that you are in my life which is why you are my chief joy. This is the fact that you are my portion in the land of the living, and for this cause, you are the God of my exceeding joy.
The phrase ‘God my exceeding joy’ means God in his life is the most important thing that gives him joy, nothing else. His exceeding joy was not in his bank account details- money. It was not in any of his wives or his children. It was not from any delights of the sons of men in this fallen world, as we see in the life of the wife of Job, when all was lost, she lost her joy in God and bid her husband to curse God and die.
David’s expression, not only speaks for the present state of his walk with God, but also pointed us to the time when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes, when we shall not sorrow again, when we shall see him as he is, when we also shall be like him, rejoicing forever in the God of our exceeding joy.
God my exceeding joy expresses the idea that the happiness found in his intimacy and relationship with God is superior to other sources of joy.
You can rob David and run away with his blessings as the Amalekites once did against him, but with the strength derives from the joy of the God of his exceeding joy, David will go in the strength of that joy to pursue, overtake and recover all. He will always encouraged himself, make himself happy in the God of his exceeding joy.
First, this was a powerful discovery of David about God which was the source of his gift to play flute and harp with other instruments of music, and to write numerous psalms unto the praises and exaltation of God, his exceeding joy. The blessing of the honorable title bestowed upon him as the sweet psalmist of Israel. 2 Samuel 23:1.
Second, why do certain people murmured and complaint in difficulty? Because they have not found their contentment and satisfaction in God as the God of their exceeding joy!
Some believers goes to the church just to have fun during the time of praises, when they can dance and put certain things behind them for a while; but King David’s expression of God as his exceeding joy gone beyond the fullness of joy anyone can found in God’s presence in the assembly of his saints – in his presence is fullness of joy.
There is a difference between the fullness of joy and overflowing joy.
The latter is exceeding and abundant beyond the fullness. It is a joy which is constantly running over, deeper, coming out from the well of salvation. It can’t dry or wither as in the lives of many sadists in the church. It’s power is beyond any bad emotion or circumstance. The wickedness of the wicked or any disappointments of life cannot stop the continual overflowing of the joy from this God, if we should make him our exceeding joy.
David’s declaration of God as his exceeding joy transcended the joy of the seventy disciples returning back to Jesus, rejoicing that the demons subjected to them in his name. When we shall be fiercely persecuted, and falsely accused for his name’s sake, – when the earth be removed, and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; the waters thereof roar and be troubled, when the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, will he still be the God of our exceeding joy, that our reward might be great in heaven?
David’s declaration of God as his exceeding joy was borne out of his personal revelation and understanding of God’s expectations from him to offer praise by glorifying the creator in appreciation and acknowledgement that he live, move and have his being in him – I will praise the Lord as long as I live. Psalms 146:2.
Only the fools, like the rich foolish man will show and express that their joy and satisfaction are only found in the increase and enlargement of their barns and substances which made God to cut his life short for the error of his preferment and rejoicing over things given above the giver. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Habakkuk 3:17-19.
In the life of David, nothing else matters except God. It was said of him that he obeyed God in all things, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite, whom he killed with the sword of war to take his wife. Note: those who have chosen to make God their exceeding joy, should serve him with gladness of heart, and walking in the light and truth of his word in increasing obedience to his word, practically doing his will. By these things, they shall be well pleasing in his sight – And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. Psalms 119:47.