January 6 – Shout With Joy!

January 6 – Shout With Joy!

Psalm 66:1-20

Yesterday I wrote that I hoped you read through these passages on your own, even though I quote only a few verses.  This Psalm is so glorious, I hope you choose to read it as well.  If you are reading this from within the blog site, you should be able to click on the passage and go right to the Scripture passage … or, pull open that Bible of yours and have at it!

“Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing to the glory of his name; offer him glory and praise!” (Psalm 66:1-2)

I wanted to keep typing this Psalm out so you would continue to read the words of praise.  The Psalmist (it’s not attributed to David, so no one is sure who wrote it) commands the reader to offer praise.  Tell God how awesome he is!

“Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf!” (Psalm 66:5)

The Lord has power over the sea, he watches everything.  There is nothing the Lord cannot do!

“Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.” (Psalm 66:8-9)

I laugh on Sunday mornings when worship leaders try to get the people in the pews to make more noise.  There is nothing more frustrating for a worship leader who has spent all week thinking and praying about leading people into the presence of God and then encountering a room filled with people who didn't want to get out of bed that morning.  All week long, the leader’s focus has been on the glorious things God has done for us. How can you not stand up and shout and sing praises when that is who you focus on?  And yet, no one else is focused quite as tightly on those wondrous, glorious gifts God has given us.

So, the leader says things like, “You shout and scream at a football game, why can’t you make the same noise now?”

I guess the question kind of hangs out there with no good answer, doesn't it!  Why can’t the sound of God’s praise be heard throughout the nations.  The next sentence in the Psalm tells us why it should – he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping!  It’s a good question and one we should all answer in our hearts.  When it comes time for us to praise God, why won’t we?

“Come and listen, all you who fear God, let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.” (Psalm 66:16-17)

Tell the world. Lift up His name in praise.  Cry out to Him with your mouth, let His praise be on your tongue!  Tell the world.