In Psalm 5:11-12, David says to God, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You.  Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them.  Let those who love Your Name be joyful in You.  For You O Lord will bless the righteous with favor.  You will surround him as with a shield.” (and who are the righteous?  It’s those who have Jesus’ righteousness, because they trust in Him.)

So why should we rejoice?  One reason is because we have put our trust in the Lord, and we know He is taking care of us.  He IS defending us.  We have this great reason to be joyful.  Another reason we have to rejoice, and be thankful, and praise and worship God is because we know He is blessing us; because we are righteous, because we have the righteousness of those who trust God, like Abraham. (see Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed (trusted) God and it was counted to him for righteousness.”)

How do you like that line, “You will bless the righteous with favor. You will surround him as with a shield.”  Makes me think of an invisible shield; a bullet proof, electron shield, so the galactic invaders can’t touch you.  Even better, this shield comes with God’s favor.  (You know favor? That’s God’s Grace, His Unmerited Favor.) When you have God’s favor, it means that God likes you and almost everyone else likes you too, because God moves them to like you.           Yes, I know you may think I’m kidding.  You may say that doesn’t happen, certainly not in this day and age.  Au contraire!  I have personally experienced it and witnessed it in the lives of others.  Favor.  It’s like being golden. For no apparent reason, good things just happen.  Why?  Because God enjoys granting favor to people, especially to those who trust Him.  It’s like ole David says in the end of the 23rd Psalm, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  That’s what favor feels like.

So rejoice! Be happy! Be thankful! Enjoy the favor!