Rejoice in Yahweh (Hab 3:18-3:19)

“Yet I will rejoice

In Yahweh!

I will exult

In the God

Of my salvation!

God!

Yahweh!

Is my strength.

He makes my feet

Like the feet of a deer.

He makes me tread

Upon the heights.”

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

Habakkuk ended his song or hymn with great rejoicing in Yahweh his God, who saves him.  Clearly this was a psalm or canticle with the notation about the leader or choirmaster and the stringed instruments.  Yahweh, God, was his strength, who gave him the ability to run like a deer.  He could even ascend to the heights.  This psalm has a very optimistic ending.

Rejoice in Yahweh (Isa 61:10-61:11)

“I will greatly rejoice

In Yahweh.

My whole being shall exult

In my God.

He has clothed me

With the garments of salvation.

He has covered me

With the robe of righteousness.

I am

Like a bridegroom who decks himself

With a garland.

I am

Like a bride who adorns herself

With her jewels.

As the earth brings forth its shoots,

As a garden causes

What is sown in it

To spring up,

So Yahweh God

Will cause righteousness

To spring up before all the nations.

He will cause praise

To spring up before all the nations.”

This author now turns around and rejoices in Yahweh. His whole being and existence exults in God. He has been clothed with the garments of salvation. He wears a robe of righteousness. He is like a groom who wears a flower garland or a bride with all her jewels. He is like the shoots that grow from the ground or like a garden breaking out with flower sprouts. Thus Yahweh, our God, will cause righteousness and praise to spring up among all the various countries.

Rejoice in Yahweh (Ps 32:10-32:11)

“Many are the pangs of the wicked.

But steadfast love surrounds those

Who trust in Yahweh.

Be glad in Yahweh!

Rejoice!

O righteous!

Shout for joy!

All you upright in heart!”

The wicked will continue to suffer. However, those who trust in Yahweh, will find that steadfast love surrounds them. This psalm ends with a rousing call to rejoice. If you trusted in Yahweh, then rejoice! Be glad! Should for joy! The righteous and the upright of heart will be surrounded with the love of Yahweh. They in turn should shout for joy because of their love for Yahweh.