The light of Thy countenance
has been signed upon us.
Thou hast given gladness to my heart.
And let all them be glad
that hope in Thee;
they shall ever rejoice
and Thou shalt dwell among them.
O Lord, as with a shield of Thy good pleasure
hast Thou crowned us.
-From Psalms 4 and 5
With patience I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He was attentive unto me,
and He hearkened unto my supplication.
And He brought me up out of the pit of misery,
and from the mire of clay.
And He hath put into my mouth a new song,
a hymn unto our God.
-From Psalm 39
PSALM 129
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou shouldest mark iniquities,
O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand?
For with Thee there is forgiveness.
For Thy name’s sake
have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord;
my soul hath waited patiently for Thy word,
my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch until night,
from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy,
and with Him is plenteous redemption,
and He shall redeem Israel
out of all his iniquities.
The poetry of this Psalm enlivens my spirit with its many action verbs that evoke the overflowing love and energies of God as we humans experience Him, being turned, quickened, gladdened; hearing our Father speak peace and living in His Kingdom where righteousness and peace kiss, truth springs up, and fruit naturally grows on the trees.
O God, Thou wilt turn and quicken us,
and Thy people shall be glad in Thee.
Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy,
and Thy salvation do Thou give unto us.
I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me;
for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints
and to them that turn their heart unto Him.
Surely nigh unto them that fear Him is His salvation,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth are met together,
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth is sprung up out of the earth,
and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
Yea, for the Lord will give goodness,
and our land shall yield her fruit.
Righteousness shall go before Him
and shall set His footsteps in the way.
-From Psalm 84
Gladsome Lights 