Here it is, one of the most joyful psalms. Even if we had only the text before us and knew nothing...
Here it is, one of the most joyful psalms. Even if we had only the text before us and knew neither which instruments sounded when it was created nor what its musical rhythms were like at the time, it would still not be difficult to hear them through the words and rhythms of the psalm itself. By its very sound, it proclaims that the news of the Lord is joy. After the Fall it became difficult for humans to stand before the Lord, and the desire to hide from Him arose and became habitual for many. But now the psalmist calls everyone to come before the Lord. He is good, and therefore every earthly fear crumbles before Him.
Here the faithful are called the sheep of His pasture, while in another, more dramatic psalm they are called the sheep of His hand. The same image speaks of His nearness to us both in joy and in difficult trials, and it is hardly by chance that the call to serve the Lord with gladness echoes Christ’s call not to look gloomy while fasting. The joy He gives is not an illusory emotion or a mad euphoria, but that deep joy which will not fade and which no one will take away from us.
