Psalm 5:11

Berean Standard Bible

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.

King James Bible

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

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This verse stands in sharp contrast to the verse that precedes it. Where Psalm 5:10 is a cry for judgment upon the wicked, Psalm 5:11 shifts to a celebration of divine protection and joy for those who place their trust in God. The contrast is deliberate and powerful. It draws a line between those who rebel against the Lord and those who run to Him as their refuge. It is a pattern often found in the Psalms—juxtaposing judgment and mercy, ruin and refuge, wrath and rejoicing—to highlight the moral and spiritual divide that exists between the godless and the godly, not merely in conduct but in orientation of the heart.

This verse begins with the word “But,” which marks a deliberate pivot from the fate of the wicked to the hope of the righteous. It suggests that while rebellion leads to ruin, trust in God leads to rejoicing. The distinction is not based on merit or self-righteousness, but on relationship—on trust, on dependence, on love for the name of the Lord. The psalmist invites us to behold two divergent destinies: one of judgment, the other of joy. This is not only a theological truth; it is a pastoral comfort. For those overwhelmed by the presence of evil in the world, the psalm offers assurance that God is not only a judge of the wicked, but also the unfailing defender of His people.

The phrase “let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice” reflects a central truth of biblical faith: that true joy arises not from favorable circumstances, but from confident trust in the character of God. Trust here is not a passive sentiment, but an active reliance—a placing of one’s whole weight upon God, even in the face of adversity, betrayal, or threat. Those who trust God are invited to rejoice not because their lives are free of trial, but because their security rests in the unchanging nature of their God. This joy is not a fleeting emotion, but a deep and enduring reality grounded in the covenant faithfulness of the Lord. Trust gives birth to joy because it shifts the soul’s focus from the chaos of the world to the constancy of God.

David intensifies this joy with the phrase “let them ever shout for joy.” This is not mere inner gladness, but public, expressive celebration. To shout for joy is to exult—to lift one’s voice in praise, thanksgiving, and victory. It is the language of those who know they are secure, even while surrounded by dangers. The use of the word “ever” suggests an enduring joy, not interrupted by changing circumstances. The people of God are not meant to be perpetually crushed by fear or despair, even when evil seems to prosper. They are called to be a rejoicing people, because their joy is anchored in a God who defends them.

The reason for this joy is immediately given: “because thou defendest them.” God’s protection is not abstract or theoretical. It is personal, active, and trustworthy. The verb implies shelter, covering, and divine intervention. God is not merely a passive observer of His people’s trials—He is their shield, their fortress, their place of safety in the day of trouble. The context of Psalm 5, which includes reference to lies, deceit, and enemies, makes this especially powerful. The righteous are not promised an easy path, but they are promised a divine Defender. And this defense is not based on their strength, but on God’s covenantal commitment to those who trust Him.

The verse then moves to a more intimate expression: “Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” This clause reveals the deeper root of trust and joy—it is love for the name of the Lord. In Scripture, God’s “name” is not a mere label, but a revelation of His nature, His character, His glory. To love God’s name is to love who He is—to cherish His holiness, His justice, His mercy, His truth. This love is not sentimental or vague; it is covenantal, informed by knowledge of God’s acts and attributes. It is relational, not merely doctrinal. And it produces joy—joy not merely in the blessings God gives, but in God Himself.

The psalmist thus paints a portrait of the righteous as those who trust God, rejoice in Him, shout for joy at His protection, and find delight in His very being. Their joy is not rooted in self-confidence or in the absence of danger, but in the steadfast love of the Lord. This verse is therefore both a comfort and a call. It comforts the weary by reminding them that God defends His people and that their joy is not in vain. But it also calls the faithful to express that joy, to lift their voices in praise, and to love the name of the Lord with increasing fervor.

In a world where evil often seems unchecked, where deceit goes unpunished and the righteous suffer, Psalm 5:11 reminds us that the people of God are not defined by the troubles they face, but by the God they trust. Joy is not naïveté; it is the bold declaration that our Defender reigns. To shout for joy in such a world is an act of faith, a spiritual defiance of fear, and a testimony to the power of divine protection.

Psalm 5:11, then, is a hymn of confidence and a blueprint for the inner life of the believer. It shows us that trust in God must not be a quiet resignation, but a loud rejoicing. That loving God’s name should not be a private sentiment only, but a public delight. And that amid all that opposes righteousness, God is actively sheltering those who belong to Him. This joy is not optional—it is the fruit of faith, the overflow of love, and the declaration that our hope is not in vain. It is a joy that will endure, not just now, but forever.

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Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord—

to all who love His appearing, who call upon His name in truth,

to the scattered saints, the faithful remnant, the weary pilgrims and joyful worshipers,

greetings in the fellowship of the Spirit and in the unity of the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

Beloved of God,

Let your hearts be stirred as we meditate upon the words of the holy psalmist David, preserved by the Spirit for our instruction and comfort:

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

This sacred verse is no small utterance. It is a window into the soul of the righteous and a summons to all who belong to the Lord. In a world filled with conflict, where deceit spreads like wildfire and the enemies of truth seem bold and loud, the psalmist bids us to look higher—to the God who defends His own, who surrounds His people with favor like a shield, who remains unshaken by the rising tide of evil.

You who trust in the Lord, rejoice! Not merely in word, nor only in quiet contemplation, but with the full breath of your being. Rejoice not as those who have no battles, but as those who know their refuge. Trust is not a passive posture—it is the very lifeline of the soul that leans into God when all else fails. It is the quiet resolve of faith that says, “Though the earth be moved, I shall not be shaken.” It is the echo of the saints who walked through fire, through flood, through ridicule and sword, and yet clung to the promises of God. And it is from that trust that joy is born—not a shallow happiness, but a deep, unshakable gladness rooted in the character of God Himself.

And what does the psalmist say? “Let them ever shout for joy.” This is not the whisper of religion, nor the restrained muttering of formality. This is a holy outburst of the heart, a proclamation of confidence in the God who saves. It is the sound of the redeemed declaring with one voice: “Our God reigns!” This joy is not circumstantial—it is not borrowed from temporary victories or worldly ease. It flows from the fountain of divine protection. For the Lord defends His people. He is not a distant observer but a present shield. His arm is not short, nor is His eye blind to our afflictions. He lifts the head of the bowed down. He scatters the counsel of the wicked. He hides His beloved in the secret place of His presence.

O church of the living God, do not measure your joy by the quietness of your life or the absence of enemies, but by the nearness of your Defender. Are there enemies at your gates? The Lord is within your walls. Do lies encircle you? His truth is your armor. Are you slandered or misunderstood? He knows the hearts of men. Let not your confidence rest in the changeable winds of public opinion or in the fragile peace of man, but in the Lord who surrounds you with songs of deliverance.

And then the psalmist speaks of the root of all this trust and rejoicing: “Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Here is the secret spring. It is not merely trust in God's help, but love for God's name. To love His name is to love all that He is—His holiness, His justice, His mercy, His power, His faithfulness. It is to rejoice not just in what He does, but in who He is. And those who love His name are not shaken when circumstances shift, for their joy is not in the gifts but in the Giver. They are not tethered to the fortunes of this world but are anchored in the eternal glory of God’s character.

Beloved, do you love His name? Not only the sound of it, but the truth of it? Do you delight in the holiness of God as much as in His kindness? Do you love His discipline as you do His comfort? Those who love His name cannot be content with mere religion—they desire the presence of God Himself. They long to see His name honored, His truth exalted, His will done on earth as it is in heaven.

Let your joy, then, not be lukewarm or conditional. Let it not be the quiet hum of contentment only, but the thunderous song of the redeemed. Let it be a defiant joy, the kind that sings in prison cells, that endures the cross, that welcomes the fire not with fear but with faith. For our God is a consuming fire, and yet also a mighty refuge. He crushes the oppressor and gathers the humble. He opposes the proud but gives grace to the lowly. To be joyful in Him is to rest in His justice, to rejoice in His mercy, and to long for His glory above our own comfort.

Let this be our witness in a world of confusion: that we are a people of unshakable joy. Not because we are untouched by sorrow, but because we are held by One who is eternal. Not because our path is free from trial, but because our Defender walks with us through every storm. And let this joy be the oil that keeps our lamps burning while we await the return of our King. For He is coming soon, and on that day, all the defenders of lies will fall, and the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Until that day, be found trusting. Be found rejoicing. Be found loving His name. And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, that you may stand blameless at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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O Lord our God, most high and most near, we come before You with reverent joy and grateful hearts, for You have called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. You have invited us to trust in You, and by Your grace we have come. We acknowledge that You alone are our refuge, our fortress, our stronghold in the day of trouble. In a world that staggers beneath the weight of its own rebellion, where the voices of the proud grow louder and the foundations of truth seem shaken, we look to You, the unchanging One, the faithful Defender of all who take refuge in Your name.

We thank You that You have not left us to wander in fear or to be consumed by the schemes of the wicked, but have given us cause to rejoice—not in ourselves, but in You. We rejoice because our trust is not placed in fragile things, nor in the shifting promises of men, but in the steadfast love of the Lord, which is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him. You have bid us not only to trust but to rejoice, and not only to rejoice, but to shout for joy. And so we come not only with quiet faith but with the rising song of gladness. You are the shield around us, the lifter of our heads, the voice that speaks peace to our trembling hearts.

Lord, we confess that our joy often falters when our eyes grow fixed on what surrounds us. We are distracted by the strength of the enemy, by the noise of falsehood, by the burden of our own weakness. But You remind us through Your Word that joy is not the fruit of comfort or ease, but the evidence of trust. Teach us, then, to rejoice not when our circumstances are pleasing, but when our hearts are stayed upon You. Let us shout for joy even in the valley, because You are with us. Let the sound of our rejoicing not be a hollow echo of earthly happiness, but the deep, enduring melody of those who know they are defended by the living God.

You are our defender. You see what we cannot see. You fight where we cannot reach. You shelter when we cannot stand. We praise You, Lord, because You are not a passive observer, but a present help in trouble. You raise up a standard when the enemy rushes in like a flood. You go before us and surround us. You uphold us with Your righteous right hand. Let our confidence rest not in our strategies or in our strength, but in the sure promise that You are for us. And if You are for us, who can be against us?

O God, deepen in us a love for Your name. Not just a love for what You give, but for who You are. Your name is holy and high, yet near to the brokenhearted. Your name reveals Your character—merciful, just, faithful, jealous, compassionate, and true. We love Your name because it is a strong tower, and the righteous run into it and are safe. We love Your name because it was in Your name that we were saved, and in Your name that we live and move and have our being. Let our joy not be thin or momentary, but full and abiding, because it is joy in You, the unchangeable God. Let it not be rooted in outcomes, but in the revelation of Your glory. Let us be joyful in You—when the day is bright or when the night is long—because You remain the same.

We pray for one another, Lord, as those scattered in many places but united in one Spirit. Cause Your Church to be a people marked by trust and joy. Let the world see in us not a brittle happiness, but a joy that endures suffering. Let our rejoicing be an act of faith, a song of defiance against despair, a declaration that the Lord reigns and His mercy endures forever. Let those who love Your name shine with joy that no darkness can extinguish. Guard us, keep us, fill us, and anchor us in You. Let joy be our strength and trust be our anthem.

All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Defender, and our exceeding joy. Amen.