The Heart and Love

"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety" Psm. 4:7,8). When it's all said and done, if we have this testimony that David had, then we really have it all. Reason being that it is impossible to truly have this report unless your heart is deeply anchored in the love and the faith of Christ. Let's look at these verses and think about what is really being said, and what it takes to be in company with David in these things. Everyone feels like they have joy and gladness when things go well for them. I mean who doesn't like a financial increase coming there way? Who feels bad about getting the girl or the guy they were hoping for? Who is it that doesn't like it when people like them? Of course the answer to all of these questions is 'nobody,' obviously. The point is that everyone has gladness about good things happening to them, or at least they feel like they do. That is the gladness of our corn and our wine being increased, as David referenced. But David was rejoicing and giving thanks for a GREATER joy and gladness than things just going well. The joy and gladness David was referring to can only be realized by those who diligently keep their heart and their relationship with God clean and pure at all times and in all circumstances. Those who would have this testimony are neither slack with their spiritual condition and their faith during good times, nor are they overwhelmed and turned aside during times that may be agonizing. The apostle Paul addressed this very issue to the Philippians: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philip. 4:11-13). That last part there, about being able to "do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me," is where the answer is at.

There simply is nothing 'stronger' than having total, permeating peace in one's soul, by means of having a heart that is pure from sin. That's the way it goes really. If sin is present then peace is not. If holiness is present, then peace is there. It's that simple. An abundance of peace in the heart and soul is the most powerful thing that exists for the human condition, and in fact it is what Christ died and rose to give us. The scriptures plainly declare this to be true: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). Once again the apostle Paul tells us what our new birth into the kingdom of God is all about: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom. 14:17). Only by means of having this peace and this joy will we not be overcome by adverse circumstances that challenge our very souls. And only by keeping this divine peace can we have the joy that is above the gladness of our corn and our wine increasing, as David alluded to. The truth of the matter is that it takes a lot of prayer on a regular basis to maintain the spiritual strength to have joy during difficult times. Paul also addressed this in the same chapter of Philippians that I've already quoted from: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philip. 4:6,7). The flip side of this saying is that the peace of God will NOT keep our hearts and minds unless we continue in prayer, and supplication, and thanksgiving. So in reality we can only be certain that our gladness is 'more than when their corn and their wine increased' if we still have gladness when things are going against us, rather than for us. I can tell you one thing for certain; it is not a natural or automatic thing to feel that way, and it has to be hard fought for in much prayer to have and maintain. That's why it's called a warfare.

The second verse of our text passage is substantiated by the same means as the first verse. We can only lie down at night with peace and confidence of safety if our heart is pure from sin, and our conscience is at ease, with no nagging. But I will say something here about the magnitude of God's grace in regard to this. There have been times that I have laid down at night so burdened and grieved that I would just as soon the Lord would take me in my sleep, rather than to awake the next day. And I'm not even talking about sin here, but just overwhelming circumstances that have been literally crushing to my spirit. But in his great mercy the Lord has many times lifted my burden while I was sleeping, and I awoke with peace and hope. That is a lot of grace, and I can't even express how thankful I am for times like that, for the unfathomable love that God has shown me. All I can say is that it is worth whatever it takes to maintain God's peace and his joy in our deepest being, through any and all circumstances in life, both good and bad. David knew what I'm talking about here, and expressed it often: "For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee... Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble" (Psm. 143:3-8,11). And because David refused to turn aside from casting all of his cares on the Lord continually, and from following after his commandments, he was able to have the testimony of having a gladness that is above the gladness of things going well. May we be so blessed. Amen.