Make A Joyful Noise to the Lord
Psalm 100:1-4: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."
There is a joy I feel each time I read this psalm; it is a joy of remembering. Many summers in my childhood were spent at my favorite place on earth: The Vineyard Camp. It is at this camp that I came to know the Lord and to live in relationship with him. Each summer I went back so hungry for the Christian teaching and fellowship I experienced there. It was a little glimpse into heaven for me as we sang, worshipped, and played A LOT!
As I read through this psalm today, I began to sing the words I learned at camp so many years ago. We sang Psalm 100 many times so the words were etched into my mind and spirit. I felt incredible joy as I sang and as I remembered. This is exactly what the psalmist wants us to do! He calls us to lift up our voices and sing before the Lord, to remember all that he has done, to be glad, and to give thanks and praise to him. The Lord delights in our songs and our praise. He loves to be remembered and worshipped. He designed us to praise and worship him. When we do, we enjoy fellowship with him.
So why do we praise God? According to this psalmist, we praise him because he made us. We belong to him; he is our perfectly heavenly Father. We praise him because just as a shepherd cares for his sheep, so the Lord cares for his people - he protects, he guides, he provides, and he cares diligently for us. We praise him for the steadfast love that he has given to us. We could never deserve such love; yet, the Father has lavished his love upon us and will continue to lavish that love upon us.
We praise the Lord because he alone is worthy of our complete adoration, devotion, and worship. Here is the best thing: To praise the Lord is a joy, not a burden. Praise and worship of the Lord gives us a glimpse into the heavenly realms where we will worship him for eternity. That worship will be even better than camp worship. In our eternal dwelling place, there will be indescribable joy, unending worship, the deepest fellowship, and the most fulfilling play.
May we come to the Lord today making a joyful noise, and may we serve him every day with gladness knowing that the best is yet to come.
Reflection:
Are you making a joyful noise to the Lord these days? Is worship a joy for you or a delight? What would the Lord want you to know about your heart's posture towards him today?
There is a joy I feel each time I read this psalm; it is a joy of remembering. Many summers in my childhood were spent at my favorite place on earth: The Vineyard Camp. It is at this camp that I came to know the Lord and to live in relationship with him. Each summer I went back so hungry for the Christian teaching and fellowship I experienced there. It was a little glimpse into heaven for me as we sang, worshipped, and played A LOT!
As I read through this psalm today, I began to sing the words I learned at camp so many years ago. We sang Psalm 100 many times so the words were etched into my mind and spirit. I felt incredible joy as I sang and as I remembered. This is exactly what the psalmist wants us to do! He calls us to lift up our voices and sing before the Lord, to remember all that he has done, to be glad, and to give thanks and praise to him. The Lord delights in our songs and our praise. He loves to be remembered and worshipped. He designed us to praise and worship him. When we do, we enjoy fellowship with him.
So why do we praise God? According to this psalmist, we praise him because he made us. We belong to him; he is our perfectly heavenly Father. We praise him because just as a shepherd cares for his sheep, so the Lord cares for his people - he protects, he guides, he provides, and he cares diligently for us. We praise him for the steadfast love that he has given to us. We could never deserve such love; yet, the Father has lavished his love upon us and will continue to lavish that love upon us.
We praise the Lord because he alone is worthy of our complete adoration, devotion, and worship. Here is the best thing: To praise the Lord is a joy, not a burden. Praise and worship of the Lord gives us a glimpse into the heavenly realms where we will worship him for eternity. That worship will be even better than camp worship. In our eternal dwelling place, there will be indescribable joy, unending worship, the deepest fellowship, and the most fulfilling play.
May we come to the Lord today making a joyful noise, and may we serve him every day with gladness knowing that the best is yet to come.
Reflection:
Are you making a joyful noise to the Lord these days? Is worship a joy for you or a delight? What would the Lord want you to know about your heart's posture towards him today?
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