I WILL GO UNTO GOD MY EXCEEDING JOY.

 
 

I will go unto God my exceeding joy.
Psalm 43:4
 

THE presence of God is terrible to the sinner,
  but it is the joy and delight of the Saint.
 
When our minds are renewed,
  when our hearts are regenerated,
  when we behold the glory of God
    in the face of Jesus Christ,
  he becomes our exceeding joy.
 
Then we see the beauty of his perfections,
  the excellency of his character, and
  the glory of his salvation.
 
We perceive that he is at peace with us,
  that his heart glows with love to us,
  that he rejoices to confer favours upon us, and
  that he will withhold no good thing from us.
 
The pardon he imparts,
  the righteousness he bestows,
  the peace he confers, and
  the prospects he unfolds,
  unite to fill our hearts with love to him, and
  cause our heart to overflow with joy.
 
He is seen to be the source of all real good,
  the centre of all that is admirable and excellent, and
  we rejoice in him with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
 
Beloved, is God your joy, your exceeding joy?
 
Can you go to him as such, and
  ask him to make you happy in his love?
 
In all times of gloom,
  in all seasons of sorrow,
  in all circumstances of trial,
  let us bear in mind that our God is our exceeding joy.
 

He shines, and I am all delight,

He hides, and all is pain;

When will he fix me in his sight

And never depart again.

 
James Smith 1849