I recall as a child trying to imagine what the personality of God was like. Sadly, I had a mistaken view of the Lord and it kept me at arms length from Him for some years. I thought of God as stern and aloof from we mere mortals.

The idea of God being joyful or singing seemed too "human" for God. I have no idea where I got this mistaken idea of God being without emotion. However, my wrong view of the Lord was definitely part of the reason I stayed away from Him until I was about 18 years old.

Then it was a few years after I became a Christian that I came across verses like ours for today—that picture God singing for joy at the thought of His people. At first, when I read these verses, I imagined it was not dignified enough of God to joyfully burst out singing over me.

However, these verses sank deep into my heart and drew me closer to the One Who created me and loved me enough to send His Son to die for me. It took some time for me to enjoy this teaching from Scripture, but the more I thought about it the happier I became.

Certainly, as Christians, we need to be joyful in the Lord, to sing happily His praise, and to be enthusiastic in expressing our love for Him. In Old Testament times God's people clapped their hands in worship and used a variety of musical instruments to accompany their singing of praise to the Lord.

There is nothing irreverent about the idea of God looking at you and His enthusiasm causing Him to burst out singing. You need to delight yourself in the Lord and rejoice in Him just as He rejoices in you. Be enthusiastic in singing at church, be passionate in expressing to Him your grateful love for all He has done for you.

Take to heart the advice of the apostle Paul when he wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice." Phil. 4:4.