January 20 – Rending the Earth With Joy

When Solomon was brought up by Zadok the priest to be made king over Israel, the people rejoiced with an earth-shattering joy.



And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. (1 Kings 1:39, 40)



Oh, that we in Cor Unum might rend the earth with resounding joy!



In all difficulty, rejoicing that our afflictions are working an eternal weight of glory to God; in all our temptations, rejoicing that we have become a people dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus . . .



In time of peace, rejoicing to know that on earth and in heaven, there is none beside the Lord, none to satisfy as He does, and in our rejoicing, ever living in the reality of the Presence of God, so deeply realized that we can say with truth . . . “in thy presence is fullness is of joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures forevermore.”



When joy becomes our strength, the earth will be rent, the hard hearts of men will make room for the seed of the Word of God, governments civil and personal will be shaken so that what may not be shaken will remain. Our joy will split the air, though we see it not, and the earth will rejoice in time to come.