But let all who trust in You rejoice. Let them exult forever, because You protect them. Let those who love Your name rejoice in You.
David contrasts the downfall of the rebels with the joy of those who rely on God. This joy is not based only on outward favorable circumstances. It is born from the awareness of the Lord’s protection and presence. In the phrase “those who love Your name,” he means those who love God as He has revealed Himself: holy, righteous, merciful, and faithful. To love God’s name means to value His character and to desire to live according to His will. The phrase “rejoice forever” shows that the joy that comes from God is deeper than temporary success. A believer can have inner rejoicing even in pain, because he knows that he belongs to the Lord. The verse teaches us to move the center of joy from circumstances to God. When He is our refuge, protection does not always mean the absence of hardship, but His faithful presence in hardship.