God my exceeding Joy.
As the Bible teems with thoughts which never would have entered men's minds without Divine teaching, so also of feelings, which, had they not been real, men would never have aspired or pretended to. Among these is that "exceeding joy" in God which the text expresses. If it be true that "the fleshly heart is enmity against God," then this joy must be supernatural. But not unnatural. Only because man is fallen can it ever be natural to him to forget God, to be careless about his Maker. This joy is the returning of the heart to its original key-note.
I. THE REASONABLENESS OF THIS JOY. On account:
1. Of all that God is in him-self—his glorious perfection.
2. Of all that he is to us—to mankind; to his people; to each believer personally. "O God, my God!" We can say this, as Christians, with fuller knowledge, more glorious warrant. "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
II. HINDRANCES TO THIS JOY.
1. Poor, unworthy thoughts of God.
2. Forgetfulness, equivalent to temporary unbelief.
3. A murmuring, unthankful, discontented spirit, underrating our mercies and overrating or rebelling against our trials.
4. Sin.
III. SHALL WE SAY THE RARITY OF THIS JOY? Let each one judge. At all events, its unspeakable desirableness. Both for the happiness and the usefulness of it; a powerful motive to holiness; a witness to others for God (Psalms 34:8; Psalms 66:16).