“For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.” (Psalms 92:4)
David in this verse gives all credit to the Lord for all the work in man, especially him. In the next verse he exclaims, “O LORD, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep.” (Psalms 92:5) From before the creation of the world, God had man in mind. Paul in his discourse of God’s work, blessing and purpose in and for man for His glory wrote, “...According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4). Many would make this to mean that predestination is God’s intention for certain ones only. But God had all of mankind in mind. His purpose was for all of mankind to choose Him. But God Who knows the end from the beginning, Who is omniscient and knows the past, present and future at once, knew that there would be rebellion. He saw it and went ahead with the creation of man and the creation of a world for them to live in. He gave man a free will to choose to love Him or not. He made provision for everything, good or bad.
David who spent many years in solitude with his father’s sheep and his communion with the Lord had a revelation of God’s greatness. And he was glad or joyful, the original meaning and intention of the word that was translated glad. If can we remember when our eyes of understanding were opened, how joyful we were, we experienced the joy that David had at understanding the Lord’s goodness in His work toward man. The Almighty Creator has showered us with the opportunity to be His children, divine creatures, born of Him, pure and holy like Him to be with Him for eternity, even after He knew things were to go awry. His desire was to have man with Him. Paul wrote to Timothy, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:3-4) John wrote the very same thing. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)
Then David makes a declaration. He will triumph in the work of the Lord’s hands. David was intuitive. He meant the good, the bad and the ugly, not to say that God worked bad and ugly things, but he meant in the consequences also of man’s rebellion. We have examples when David willingly took the consequences of his sin. He knew that no matter what, God was righteous and would mete out righteous judgement. When his baby died because of his sin, he pleaded with the Lord while the baby lived, but once the baby died, he accepted it and went on with his life. (2Samuel 12:15-20) When the curse came upon the people because he numbered the men, he prayed that he alone was to blame and placed himself under the mighty hand of God for his punishment. (2Samuel 18:1; 2Samuel 24:1-25)
We are under a different covenant with God. This covenant is upheld and sealed by the death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. In man’s vernacular, God made a new deal with us. The old deal in the Old Testament doesn’t apply. There is no more swift punishment for sin. Jesus suffered all the punishment for sin. It was sufficient. Paul wrote in Hebrews, “But in those sacrifices (of the Old Testament) there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me to do Thy will, O God. Above when He said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that He had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.” (Hebrews 10:3-18)
Like David we are joyful and triumph in Him Who is wonderful and mindful of man who He created in His image and Whose provision for our eternity was since the beginning of creation.
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