Four Stages of Christian Experience
F. Burnett. Psalm 89:15-18 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance.… I. RECOGNIZING THE DIVINE VOICE. "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound" — that is, blessed are they who know its meaning, who, hearing it break upon the morning air, know that the hour of their deliverance draweth nigh. II. LIVING IN THE DIVINE LIGHT. "They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance." The walking of which the Bible has so much to say is a sustained progression from sin to holiness. To hear and obey the joyful sound is to live in the Divine light, and to live in the Divine light is to live in the Divine favour. But we can only live thus as we set Him before us; regarding His honour as having the first claim, seeking first the kingdom of God. III. REJOICING IN THE DIVINE NAME. "In Thy name shall they rejoice all the day." Our joy need not depend upon our mood of the moment: for knowing that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth, we may rejoice ever in the saving name of our God. IV. BEING EXALTED IN THE DIVINE RIGHTEOUSNESS. "In Thy righteousness shall they be exalted," or, "they are exalted." The people that know the joyful sound are lifted up, not by any power of their own, but by God's adherence to His own gracious covenant. In Adam we were abased, but in Christ we are exalted. What a paradox that the believer, lowly and poor, taking ofttimes a humble place among men, often cast down by the burdens of life, yet should be sitting with Christ in the heavenly places. (F. Burnett.) Parallel Verses KJV: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. WEB: Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.