Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day.
—Psalm 89:15-16
“Good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10) was what the angel called the gospel message, which is called “the joyful sound” in Psalm 89.Such blessedness consists of God’s people walking in the light of God and rejoicing in His name “all day long.” Undisturbed fellowship and never ending joy are their portion. In the Old Testament, such things were at times the experience of believers. But there was no continuance; the Old Testament could not secure it. Only the New Testament can and does give it.
In every well‑ordered family, one finds the father delighting in his children, and children rejoicing in their father’s presence. This mark of a happy home is what the heavenly Father has promised and delights to work in His people—walking and rejoicing in His name all day long. It has been promised; it has been made possible in Christ through the Holy Spirit filling the heart with the love of God. It is the heritage of everyone who is seeking to love God with all his heart and with all his strength.
And yet, how many of God’s children think it impossible and have even given up the hope and desire for a life of rejoicing in God’s presence all day long! But Christ promised it so definitely: “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11); “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice” (John 16:22).
The Father wants His children to have perfect confidence in and love for Him. He knows their need for His presence every moment of the day for their happiness and strength. Christ maintains this life in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be content with nothing less than the blessedness of those who know the joyful sound: “They shall walk…in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day…For Thou art the glory of their strength” (Psalm 89:15–17).
The deeper we seek to enter into God’s will for us, the stronger our faith will be that the Father can be content with nothing less than His child walking and rejoicing in His name all day long. We can be assured that what the Father has meant for us will be brought about in us through Christ and the Holy Spirit.