The Joyful Sound
“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.” (Psalm 89:15)
There are many who sing the hymn ‘Jesus Saves!’- ‘Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!’ The question is, ‘Who is the Jesus Who saves?’ To tell people that Jesus saves but it is up to them to make that happen is not the joyful sound described in Scripture.
The Psalmist is speaking here of the jubilee-trumpet which was sounded throughout the land on the Great Day of Atonement, Lev. 25:9. This was the day, once a year, when the blood was shed and carried into the Holiest of Holies by the high priest alone, to cover [atone] for the sins of the people for one more year. It was all the high priest’s work to do on behalf of the people. Theirs was the sinfulness; the blood shed by the high priest was what stayed God’s wrath for one more year. It was a foreshadowing of the work of the LORD Jesus Who would come in the fullness of the time, Galatians 4:4, not merely to atone [cover] the sin of His elect people but to effectually put it away, to the satisfaction of the HOLY God Who purposed to save them from eternity and in time, at the cross, He actually saved, redeemed, justified and reconciled them to Himself.
What was a joyful sound of liberty to the people through the ram’s horn from the slain sacrifice, was a true type of the blowing of the Great Trumpet, the sound of the Everlasting Gospel restoring life, liberty and salvation to perishing, captive souls. It announced the exclusive work of the LORD Jesus, once for all. Those who, by the Spirit of Grace, have been made to hear this Gospel sound in the salvation of their souls, truly do rejoice and value it as the most joyful of ALL sounds that has ever come to their ears and hearts. The joyful sound is that the LORD Jesus has fulfilled every condition in His righteous life and satisfactory death. Therefore, the joyful sound is that the Gospel Message is unfettered by terms and conditions imposed on the sinners. The joyful sound is, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
When the Sun of Righteousness arises in the heart, it causes all darkness and ignorance of the Glorious Savior to dissipate, 2 Peter 1:19 and His people to walk in the light of His countenance.It is then that we truly are made to hear the glorious sound and to know, by the Gospel, the Good News or Glad Tidings, which is what the word ‘Gospel’ means. It is a joyful sound indeed. It is not only that Jesus saves but that He has saved and does save because of His work accomplished in His life and death for the salvation of lost and guilty sinners, to the glory of God alone.
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