Tag Archives: Joyfully

Singing with the King (18) – Shout

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Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1)

Dancing in the Sun7

The word shout can have a negative meaning; but fortunately the Psalmist tells us to do more than just shout, we are to shout joyfully.

In the Hebrew, the word shout is a joyful shout; it is also a shout of triumph, as well as a battle cry, the sounding of alarm, and the signal for war. The LORD gave specific instructions for both in one place: When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the LORD your God. (Numbers 10:9-10)

Whether going to war, or going to worship, it’s all about the LORD.

At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. (Joshua 6:16)

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, With the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. (Psalm 98:4-6)

Shouting in war accomplishes three things:

  • It’s a warning to our enemy
  • It reveals to our enemy Who we trust
  • And it reminds God: “Hey. We’re down here in the middle of a battle and we’re kinda depending on You to help.”

To whom do you shout? What do you shout about?

Shouting for joy to the LORD in worship is not much of a stretch; you’re actually there to be in His Presence, to worship. But when you’re in the midst of a battle, a tragedy, an emergency, or whatever, shout to the LORD. It gets your eyes back on Him, and He’s the Only One Who gives victory.

 

Singing with the King (13) – An Invitation

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O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1)

Jump for JoyWhen I read this Psalm, I get the impression that O come… is an invitation rather than a command. The same could be said about the beginning of the next phrase and verse 2. Now it could be a command I suppose, but that would lose the mood and attitude of the one doing the singing. I command you to sing for joy—doesn’t seem to work.

At the beginning of a page of sheet music, there is usually a Latin term to indicate the tempo and sometimes the mood. That would seem to be the purpose of verses 1 and 2—besides being the lyrics, they’re also providing the tempo and mood. Those who are doing the singing, are doing so willingly and joyfully.

Now, not all songs are joyful, because life is not always joyful:

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in the midst of it we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us songs, and our tormentors mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” How can we sing the LORD’S song In a foreign land? (Psalm 137:1-4) (Remember to pray for Israel)

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2)

But this Psalm is not only a joyful song (mostly) it is an invitation to joy! Have you responded to God’s joyful invitation?