March 27, 2019
For full passage click: Psalm 32:6-11 …“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” vs. 11
The psalmist would have loved praise services. He couldn’t get enough of exultations and shouts of joy and wanted all the upright and the righteous to join in giving thanks to the Lord. Some who read these words might have the impression that they don’t have an invitation to the party. They don’t think of themselves as being either upright or righteous. Not to worry! These words were written by the same fellow who’d gotten physically ill while carrying his burden of sin and guilt. But because he’d confessed his sin he knew that the Lord didn’t see him as a sinner. Instead, he was the returning son and there was going to be a party full of joy and praise. And everyone was invited! As Martin Luther so joyfully put it, we are righteous because God has made us righteous. We don’t have to carry our trespasses one step further, all has been taken care of. We have been made righteous by grace and have every reason to be included in the celebration. That’s why hymns of praise and joy deserve a place in every worship service along with the prayers of confession. We’re forgiven sinners and that’s always a reason for thanksgiving, no matter how rotten we think we’ve been!
Thought for the Day: When am I most likely to think of myself as righteous?
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