Human Response 694: Gladness, Joy, and Rest in Hope

Psalm 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad; and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Therefore: what is it “there for?” Good people (the saints) are suffering, but David trusts in the goodness of the Lord and the presence of the Lord to save. Therefore, he will be glad, rejoice, and rest in hope. In the midst of “bad things happening to good people” he will find joy in the Lord. His spirit, soul, and body is glad and can rest in hope.

No matter what is going on around us in a sinful world, we can always respond with joy and hope by turning to our good God. The world will bring us down, but Jesus lifts us up. “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give rest to your souls,” Jesus says. Rest in hope, for it is stronger than memory. Romans 5:2: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Hope is a far stronger force than we realize. Hope is an anchor for the soul, reaching into heaven itself. And v. 5: “Hope does not disappoint.” Therefore, we can “rejoice in the Lord always,” in what faith sees.