Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11 ESV)
Righteousness
A few days ago, I backed up a trailer overfilled with miscellaneous junk, and it did not go very well. I just could not get the angle right. I felt unskilled and embarrassed. But recently, the same task went surprisingly well. It might have actually looked like I knew what I was doing.
I felt glad… and on the edge of laughing.
This Psalm connects gladness and joy, and perhaps the resulting laughter, with righteousness. If this righteousness was the result of my actions, abilities, and skill, I would not laugh very often. But the Psalmist is not instructing us to have a joyful celebration due to our Spiritual trailer-backing.
Because the source of Christians’ righteousness is Christ Himself.
Righteous-caused laughter is not the result of what we DO… but who we are becoming in Christ. It is HIS righteousness that enables our righteousness. It is HIS righteousness that gives us gladness resulting from it. It is HIS righteousness that gives us joy resulting from it.
When we obey, it results in gladness, joy, and laughter because we see Christ Jesus in our lives!
When we are able to be righteous, it results in gladness, joy, and laughter because we see Christ Jesus in our lives!
When we do right, because Christ IS right in us, it results in gladness, joy, and laughter because we see Christ Jesus in our lives!
When we know who we ARE, gladness and joy result.
In that light, there are so many reasons to laugh!