The Dynamics of Praise
The Psalms present us with the spectrum of worship expressions. Just a few verses before Psalm 47, the instruction was for stillness and silences.
Psalm 46:10 (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Now Psalm 47 opens:
Psalm 47:1 (ESV) Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
Why shouldn't we shout? We have an awesome King who rules and reigns. He is truly Lord of all and over all.
Too many of God's people side with one end of the spectrum. They are always quiet or they are always loud. Why not both? Life presents us with many ranges of emotions and experiences. But we should never respond to God only how we are comfortable. Sometimes we need to do what may not come natural, whether it be shouting or silence.
The truth is we all fall somewhere in the comfy middle between silence and shouting. I know for me, to sit silently before the Lord seems like an impossibility. It's not natural. For many, the idea of shouting to God is almost heretical. But God calls us into both. To embrace Him and His glory from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Zephaniah 3:14 (ESV) Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Shouting is a command. Let's be shouting people. When do we naturally shout? When something great has happened. When we want others to hear that something great has happened. How many sports fans love to cheer loudly in the faces of opposing fans when their team is triumphant! God is great and worth making a noise about. When we shout we are sending the message to our enemy, we know our God is living and all powerful. We are certain! Hear us roar!
Lets shout and let's be silent regardless of what we are comfortable with. Because when it comes to TRUE worship and praise, it really is NEVER about us.
Psalm 46:10 (ESV) “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Now Psalm 47 opens:
Psalm 47:1 (ESV) Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
Why shouldn't we shout? We have an awesome King who rules and reigns. He is truly Lord of all and over all.
Too many of God's people side with one end of the spectrum. They are always quiet or they are always loud. Why not both? Life presents us with many ranges of emotions and experiences. But we should never respond to God only how we are comfortable. Sometimes we need to do what may not come natural, whether it be shouting or silence.
The truth is we all fall somewhere in the comfy middle between silence and shouting. I know for me, to sit silently before the Lord seems like an impossibility. It's not natural. For many, the idea of shouting to God is almost heretical. But God calls us into both. To embrace Him and His glory from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Zephaniah 3:14 (ESV) Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Psalm 66:1 (ESV) Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
Isaiah 12:6 (ESV) Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Silence is a command. Let's be a silent people. I think of when we tend to be quiet by nature. Usually when someone awesome has entered the room. When the performance is about to start, or when we really want to give our full attention to something. There are times in our lives, God wants that from us. For He is worthy to be heard, adored, and given our full attention.
Lets shout and let's be silent regardless of what we are comfortable with. Because when it comes to TRUE worship and praise, it really is NEVER about us.
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