From shepherd boy anointed in secret as the next king, to Goliath-slayer, to court musician, to King’s son-in-law, to public enemy #1, to rebel band leader (as he ran for his life from King Saul), to finally, some 17 arduous years later, King of Israel – David. (A thousand years later, James will encourage believers with: 'when it seems you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.’ James 1:2-4, TPT.) As King, David composed songs (Psalms) which continue to bear out, for us in 2025, the validity of James’ words.

Psalm 16:1-11

 

 

 

Joy is meant to be ours, a joy that is defiant in the face of this broken world. Our hearts are to echo the heartbeat of our joyous God. John Eldredge

The most rapturous delights you have ever had – in the beauty of a landscape, or in the pleasure of food, or in the fulfillment of a loving embrace – are like dewdrops compared to the bottomless ocean of joy that it will be to see God face-to-face. That is what we are in for, nothing less.  Tim Keller