Make a Joyful Noise

Psalm 97:1-98:9 God loves silence, but He also loves songs of praise and joyful sounds. He created each bird with a special song. I love to be awakened by the song of a red bird, and this happens often since we live in woods that are swarming with red birds. When God created the heavens and the earth, He created them to declare His glory. Even the trees clap their hands in joy. The heavens rejoice and declare His glory. Every time I hear a clap of thunder, I am reminded of the awesome and glorious power of God.

We attend a church that spends the first thirty minutes of the service praising and worshiping the Lord in song. Sometimes visitors are put off by the length of time we spend in praise and worship, but I know God is pleased with it. He loves to hear our voices raised in adoration to Him, and I know the angels are joining us in every chorus we sing.

In Psalm 98 David writes about the joyful sounds creation makes: “O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory?.?.?.? Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing to 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. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together” (vv. 1, 4-8, KJV).

One morning when I was singing to the Lord one of my favorite hymns, “O Worship the Lord,” I meditated on the verse that says God is pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise. Suddenly I saw how praise impacts the heavenlies. We are instructed to put on the garment of praise, and when we do this the spirit of heaviness is lifted off of us. God is a spirit, and every time we praise Him we are dressing Him in garments of praise. God is a spirit, so no one can see a spirit unless there is some form or shape. When we praise God, the light of His glory intensifies and actually provides garments of light that clothe Him. Every time we praise God on earth, His manifest presence grows brighter and brighter not only in heaven, but also on earth. God’s glory garments are our praise. What an awesome thought to know that as I praise the Lord this morning I am dressing God in glory garments. He dwells in the midst of our praises.

Thank You, Lord, for the great privilege of dressing You this morning in glory garments as I praise You. Help me always to take time to do this daily.

READ: Jeremiah 49:23-50:46; Titus 1:1-16; Psalm 97:1-98:9; Proverbs 26:13-16