Psalm 98:4-6
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
What jumps out at me, in what may be the first scriptural description of a combo, is not that the emphasis is on the quality of the music, three times it is described as a noise, but that it is joyful. Noisy and joyful may be a better descriptor. Yes, I love a hymn that has three qualities with the first being the message that it carries. It must carry me closer to and strengthen, even embellish my relationship with the LORD, God, the Almighty. First foremost!
Secondly is that palpable sense of joy emanating from the musicians and congregation. Whether we are singing an excerpt from Handel’s Oratorio or “Jesus Loves Me,” the joy that bubbles out must be overwhelming. Have you ever known an individual who couldn’t carry a tune in a rusty bucket, but whose joy in singing the LORD’s praises inspired the congregation?
Thirdly, we do come to the qualities of the musicians and their leader. They must neither be so loud that they cover-up the voices of the congregation, nor be so taken with their performance that it becomes the end all and be all of worship.
But in all things and at all times, we must never forget that we sing as a sign of our love for LORD utilizing a gift from the Triune God.
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Reading
Morning Psalm 94, Noon Psalm 113-120, Psalm 141
An alternate Reading Plan is based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation.
Or set your own reading schedule up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits. But a daily time in the Word of the LORD is an absolute.
