The Lord Is Exalted among His People (vv. 10-12). God’s people are those who love Him and do not turn to idols for help (91:14; 1 Cor. 8:1-3). But if we love Him who is holy, we will hate that which is unholy (34:14; 36:4; 37:27; 119:104; Prov. 8:13; Rom. 12:9). In this paragraph, God’s people are called “saints” or “godly ones,” “the righteous,” “the upright in heart,” and all of these names speak of a life devoted to God. We should love Him, obey Him (“hate evil”), rejoice in Him, and give thanks to Him for all His mercies. After all, He protects His people, delivers them, gives them light for their path, and puts gladness into their hearts. What more could they want?

The image in verse 11 is that of the sower; the Lord plants light like seeds so that His people will not always walk in darkness, and what He plants will eventually bear fruit. “Sowing” is a frequent metaphor in Scripture for the deeds of both God and people (107:37; Prov. 11:18; Hos. 8:7; 10:12; James 3:18). The psalm begins with a universal revelation of God’s glory (vv. 2-6), with dramatic flashes of lightning, but it ends with His light quietly shining on the paths of His people. Some see the image as that of the dawn, with the morning light diffused along the ground as though the Lord were planting it like seed. But God also sows joy with that light, for when we walk in the light, we also have joy in the Lord (16:11; Isa. 60:1-5). God’s people have their dark days when life is difficult, but there are always seeds of light and joy to accompany us along the way. Is there any reason why we should not be rejoicing now?