The Word | Daily Bread SEP/04/10 |
| Written by Pastor Mark Spitsbergen |
| Saturday, 04 September 2010 14:09 |
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Psalm 100:1 - A Song of Praise: Make a joyful shout, all the earth! Interaction with God is not to be a state of melancholy, but of exuberant and joyful praise. Somewhere along the way we have made a serious error, and a detour from the truth. The fundamental attribute of praise is the shout of joy. Everyone who puts their trust in Christ Jesus, and everyone who loves Him are to forever shout for joy (Psalm 5:11; Psalm 32:11; Psalm 35:27; Psalm 95:1; Psalm 132:16; Isaiah 44:23; Zephaniah 3:14). All who are righteous and upright before God are to shout for joy; for it is this kind of praise that is beautiful to Him (Psalm 32:11; Psalm 33:1). The joyful shout of praise glorifies the Lord, and magnifies His name (Psalm 35:27). Through Christ Jesus the oil of joy has been poured out upon us, and the shout of joy put within us; therefore let us shout for joy (Psalm 132:9,16; Isaiah 61:3). It is this kind of joyful praise that the Lord demands, and it is this kind of praise which the Lord provides to us - through the gift of the Holy Ghost! (John 4:14; Psalm 87:7). Both the feast of tabernacles that is celebrated every year, and the year of Jubilee which is celebrated every 50th year, are two amazing examples that describe the cause of our rejoicing and celebration (Nehemiah 8:9-10). When we come together to worship, we are to express these joyful reactions to the liberation and eternal inheritance - that has come to us through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We are to be overwhelmed with the glory of God that was poured out on the day of Pentecost, and celebrate the infilling of God's glory into the tabernacles of our lives. Oh, put away your sighs and tears, and come and be full of joy - as you "sing unto the Lord a new song" for all the marvelous things which he has done! Joy is one of the manifestations of the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17). Joy is an evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives (Galatians 5:22; Romans 14:17; Romans 15:13; Psalm 46:4). It is not only by joy and rejoicing that we enter into the presence of the Lord, but these are also the expressions of life that come from being in His presence (Psalm 16:11; Matthew 25:21,23; 1 Samuel 4:5). Shout for joy and watch God do wonders: for there is a creative power of God at work when the sounds of joy are heard (Job 38:7; 2 Chronicles 20:22; Nehemiah 8:10). |
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