Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices: and with my song will I praise Him.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5937
Greatly Rejoices: exults, triumphs, is joyful
From the Hebrew word 'alaz' (pronounced aw-laz').
Because of Who The LORD is to me, my heart trusts in Him and He helps me. Because of Who The LORD is to me, my heart greatly rejoices. With my song I will give Him praise.
Psalm 13:5 I rejoice in His salvation
Psalm 33:21 Our hearts rejoice in Him
Psalm 105:3 Seekers' hearts rejoice
Zechariah 10:7 Their hearts will rejoice in the LORD
The LORD is a personal LORD, a personal GOD. God wants to know as Friend to friend, as Savior to saved, as Father to child. This relationship is to be valued above all other relationships that we may have. Matthew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
A heart that rejoices in the God of its salvation, rejoices to its betterment. For a heart that loves God above all else will also be able to love others with the Love of God, a far greater Love than mere familial love or brotherly love.
A heart that rejoices in its God knows the value of the wisdom of loving God. It is more able to fulfill the second commandment when it has already obeyed the first. (Matthew 22:36-39).
A heart that rejoices delights itself in the nearness of its God (Psalm 37:4). This heart begins each day in the company of its God. We start with a greeting, "Good Morning, LORD. Welcome, Holy Spirit." Some mornings I wake up with a song in my heart and on my lips. I can't help it, nor would I want to; for the Joy of the LORD is my Strength and He carries me through the day, one day at a time.
A heart that rejoices celebrates God when the way is rough going, through sorrow and pain, through trials and tribulations, through the shadowiest parts of this valley (Psalm 23:4). For the heart that rejoices in the valley knows that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28).
So, even the hard places we traverse in life are necessary to grow in the LORD. A heart that rejoices trusts in its LORD and in the knowledge that Father knows best.
A heart that rejoices knows the LORD is its Creator and its Redeemer. Isaiah 43:1-2 "Now this is what the LORD says—He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze."
A heart that rejoices in its LORD spends time with its LORD in prayer. The heart speaks not only verbally, but with tears and groans and the Spirit, who speaks for us when words cannot form themselves in our mouths (Romans 8:26). Prayer is the lifeblood of the heart that rejoices.
A heart that rejoices declares God is its God, testifies on the goodness of God, blesses God with the songs of its heart.
Psalm 63:1-8
O God, You are my God.
Earnestly I seek You;
my soul thirsts for You.
My body yearns for You
in a dry and weary land without water.
So I have seen You in the sanctuary
and beheld Your power and glory.
Because Your loving devotion is better than life,
my lips will glorify You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
in Your name I will lift my hands.
My soul is satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with joyful lips my mouth will praise You.
When I remember You on my bed,
I think of You through the watches of the night.
For You are my help;
I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
A heart that rejoices in the God of its salvation beats inside of me.
