Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. (Psalm 97:11-12)
Whatever is sown, we should expect to reap. That is, in fact, a universal law ordained by the Creator and so it is written, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). “The perverse man sows strife” and will reap the same (Proverbs 16:28) whereas the one who “sows righteousness will have a sure reward” (Proverbs 11:18). Based on this principle, we must conclude that if light and gladness are sown for us in the present, even if in the smallest measure, we will eventually enjoy both in abundance.
Our Jewish friends interpret this to mean that those who have pursued righteousness and have walked upright before the Lord will see the rewards of such in the Messianic Age. Presently, “we see through a glass, darkly” but when Messiah returns we will see Him face to face, and consequently, we will see all things clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12). Thus we understand that the light given to us now doesn’t necessarily reveal all things as quickly as we would prefer, but that light will grow stronger and brighter as we move ever closer to that glorious day.
The same truth applies to gladness; presently, our lives are oftentimes overwhelmed with hardship, tests and situations that we would prefer to avoid. Those times when we experience gladness may seem few when compared to the times we are laden with sadness. Still, He infuses our existence with seasons of gladness, brief though they may be, as a token and promise of the reward that is before us. When we see Him face to face, all the suffering of this life will fade into distant memory for we will reap the bounty of joy and gladness. Thus it is written that, “the ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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