Bible Reading: Psalm 98
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise” – Psalm 98:4(KJV)
The word of God admonishes us to make a joyful noise unto the LORD. All things created by God praises Him in their own way. The trees, the wild beast in the forest, the birds and the fishes in the great waters all render praise unto our God. The mountains sing His praise, the trees clap to his glory and the great beast in the seas all testify of the greatness of our God. Also the sun, moon and stars all praise our God. The angels praise him; humanity sings praise unto His name. When aided by the wind the trees in the forest exalts his name in praise, also when man is filled by the Holy Spirit we are led to offer Him rapturous praise. In our inestimable joy, induced by the Holy Spirit, we offer a joyful noise of high praise before our God. Most of the sound made by the trees and beast in the field may seem as noise to us but are well presented praise unto our creator. The creator understands all languages including the language of trees, mountains and beast of the field. He made them all and each and every one of them fills their purpose in creation. A very lucid presentation of who and what should praise the LORD is graphically stated in Psalm 148:1-14(KJV), “Praise ye the LORD, praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his host. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created… Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps… Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalted the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.”
In a genuine relationship with our God worldly circumstances does not determine our joy and praise, but a true leading of the Spirit brings us to the place of praise and in truth we begin to make joyful noise unto our God. When we put our whole trust in God our face is made radiant with joy. “They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” – Psalm 34:5(KJV). Joy is a spiritual virtue that stems from our trust in God and His eternal promises. It comes from within and, sometimes, could lead us to make sounds that are not coherent with human reasoning but unto God we are rendering invaluable praise of mysterious dimension. In the scriptural verse of today, we are admonished to make a loud noise, rejoice and sing praise. This is the whole essence of living.
It is by Jesus Christ that we are accepted in God, which consequently makes our praise acceptable to Him. Praises offered to God in unrighteousness is not acceptable. Our strength in righteousness is in Christ, so for our praise to be acceptable before God and have the benefit of the attendant result, we must, of a necessity, surrender our wretched life to Christ for him to bring us to our glorious destiny in God. It is only then that we can be truly connected to Him.
Prayer: Father, engrace me for a lifestyle of praise and worship to you, O LORD.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo