The Bible

 

Psalms 65:9-13

Study

      

9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

10 Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

13 The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

      

Commentary

 

Rejoice

  

Feelings of joy and rejoicing flow from our affections, not from our thoughts. Some people might argue that that's not true, that you can rejoice over learning a new idea or having a new thought -- but really you're rejoicing because you have an affection for that idea, or even simply an affection for growing wise (something very strong in men in particular). So when the Bible talks about rejoicing, exulting, or feeling joy, it is talking about an excitement of the affections -- either good or evil. Often the Bible offers this idea in pairings -- "exult and rejoice," for instance, or "rejoice and be glad." Generally this means that the spiritual event is stirring both the affection we have for truth, for thoughts, and the affection we have for doing what is good.