The Redeemed of the Lord

 The Redeemed of the Lord

July 18, 2026

Isaiah 35:10 (NKJV) 

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, Witheverlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

I got saved and baptized in the Spirit during the charismatic renewal of the early 70’s. One feature of that revival was we sang a lot of scripture songs. This verse in Isaiah was one of the scriptures that was used as the basis for the chorus “Therefore the Redeemed of the Lord.” If was a good song for me because I got saved out of a great a deal of turmoil and sadness. I was coming out of a failed marriage relationship and had left one graduate school after two years of study in high energy physics and was starting over at another school to study Biophysics. It was a time when the Lord was tearing down a lot of what my life had been built on and was building new foundations in Him. I needed joy and gladness to chase away the sorrow and sadness. We sang many such songs on those days and they helped me to rebuild a life of joy based on serving the Lord. Another song was “Mourning into Dancing” from Psalm 30:

Psalm 30:11-12 (KJV) 

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

The joy of the Lord is our strength, so whatever difficulties you may be facing today, know that you can return to the Lord with singing and obtain joy and gladness. Sorrow and sadness will flee away.

Joy and Sorrow

 Joy and Sorrow

May 8, 2026

Psalm 32:10-11 (NKJV) 

10Many sorrows [shall be] to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all [you] upright in heart!

The scripture for today is not one that everyone wants to hear. Basically, this word boils down to the fact that many of our problems are of our own creation. How many times do you hear someone complain of their sorrows and woes, but they are unwilling to consider how they have contributed to their problems and are often unwilling to forgive those who have hurt them. We have found that unforgiveness is the source of many of our problems. A little kindness and forgiveness goes a long way to easing our problems.

The psalm concludes that true joy and gladness comes from doing right. A righteous person is simply one that does the right thing. The Lord will show mercy to one who decides in his heart to do the right thing. So examine your heart. Are your problems a result of something that you did wrong? Are your conflicts with others springing our of something that can be forgiven? Even if you think it is something unforgivable, the Lord in His mercy will give you the ability to forgive if you ask Him. True joy then comes when you reflect the Lords love and mercy to those around you. So shout for joy and decide in your heart to do the right thing.

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Psalm 32:1-11 (NKJV) 

1 [A Psalm] of David. A Contemplation. Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [Whose] sin [is] covered. 2 Blessed [is] the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit [there is] no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah 

 

5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 

 

6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. 7 You [are] my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 

 

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 9 Do not be like the horse [or] like the mule, [Which] have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. 10 Many sorrows [shall be] to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all [you] upright in heart!