Psalm 35 & 36: God Is My Rejoicing

Verse of the Day: (35:9) And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

King David inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote this Psalm with double prophecy as he not only prophesied his future but also the coming of the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This was the time when David must have experienced the hardest trial of his life, especially when his beloved son, Absalom, betrayed him, and conspired with some of his unfaithful leaders to usurp his throne to be the next King of Israel. David also prophesied the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how He too would also be betrayed by false witnesses, and eventually was crucified on the cruel cross at Calvary, not for His own sins, but the sins of the whole world. Amid all the trials and testing, David still rejoiced in God, and praised and thanked Him for who He is, and what He had done with, in and through him. Like Apostle Paul and King David, let us rejoice in the Lord always in whatever circumstances we are in, as He is truly in control of everything. (Philippians 4:4)

Like the Lord Jesus, King David did good for his family and people, but many of them failed to be grateful to him, and instead they rewarded him evil for good. Jesus performed great miracles for the people, as He healed the blind to see, the lame to walk, the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear, and He cast out demons from them, and even raised the dead alive. However, they rewarded Him evil for good, as they chose to free Barabbas, the worst criminal, and crucify Jesus. (Matthew 27:26) Though Jesus and David were rewarded evil for good, yet it was God’s will for them, as they believed that He never make a mistake. Indeed, though this world may reward us evil for good, but our God shall richly reward us when we believe in Him and diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

At the end of David’s life, he knew that he was an imperfect and sinful king, but it was truly God’s abundant mercy, great faithfulness, and everlasting righteousness, that he was eventually promoted to His eternal home in glorious heaven. (1 Kings 2:1-10) This was the legacy that David charged Solomon, his son, and successor to the throne of Israel. Indeed, with God, all the kings of Israel and Judah shall victoriously rule the nation, but without Him, their enemies shall ruthlessly defeat and rule over them. Let us therefore put on Christ’s righteousness and holiness, and flee from wickedness. (Ephesians 4:17-32) 

Prayer of the Day:

Dearest God, thank You that You are my Rejoicing, Reward and Righteousness.