The Altar of Exceeding Joy

“As a deer pants for flowing streams,
    so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
    ‘Where is your God?’
These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
    and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
    a multitude keeping festival.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you…
Deep calls to deep
    at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
    have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.”

“Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
    against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
    deliver me!
For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
    why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
    because of the oppression of the enemy?

Send out your light and your truth;
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
    and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:1-6a,7-8; 43:1-5

In deepest distress, David knew where to go. The living God was his salvation in every aspect. Every cause for painful longing for more of Him- poignant remembrance, regret, grief, spiritual oppression, blatant cruelty, unjust ungodly opposition- was an invitation to His altar of joy.

The altar where love and mercy meet sin and pain. The altar from which flows the fount of cleansing and joy. Of reconciliation. Of understanding. The altar where we can lay down our arms, regrets, and pinings. Where we offer our bodies in living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God as a spiritual act of worship. The Lord bids us come to the fount. To the flowing streams. To the once-for-all place of redemption, and find hope. The place where God redeems, restores, and rejoices over us with singing. (Ezekiel 47:1-9; Zephaniah 3:17; Romans 12:1–2; Hebrews 10:12-14; 1 Peter 3:18)

Does exceeding joy describe us? Do those in our families or at work hear us as ungrateful complainers or singers of songs in the night? Are we seen as downcast, or full of light? Where we direct our panting souls makes a difference.

When do I take time on my knees, eyes closed to the outside world, ears turned from the barrage of voices, to lay my all on God’s altar? How can I make songs of praise a regular practice? In Christ alone is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11; 36:9)

Worthy Lord, turn my heart and voice to You to find and express songs of exceeding joy.