Recently, when I was studying, Psalm 100 I noticed that the first line talks about making noise.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Psalm 100:1
RAISE YOUR HANDS
Though it has taken me quite some time to get over my insecurities about raising my hands during worship, I still don’t feel like I’m very loud in worship. I sing along with the songs, but I don’t go out of my way to make noise.
I felt like God was showing me He wants us to be excited when we are in His presence. We are naturally excited about many things in our every day lives, such as someone’s birthday, seeing an old friend, sports or cheering for your children when they do something new. But for whatever reason, some of us have a harder time showing our excitement for God, even in a worship setting.
FIGHT WITH PRAISE
As you may know, worship and praise can be used as a spiritual weapon. Praise puts us in a place of remembrance of the Lord and ties into thankfulness. Worship is the response we have to God, because of who He is. It’s an action.
Music is an art form that was given to us by our Creator. It should be used for God’s glory. As we know from scripture, there is music in heaven.
SINGING IN HEAVEN
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:8-9
Even in God’s rebuke of Job, He strongly states that the angels were singing long before Job came along.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7
Music came before we existed. The Lord so graciously has shared His beautiful gift with us. We should feel honored to have music as a way to connect with God. It should be considered holy.
I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music. Johann Sebastian Bach
CONNECT WITH GOD
Worship music carries God’s personal touch. It has the ability to permeate the atmosphere. Music is intended to move us emotionally and to connect us with our creator. Therefore be extremely careful and intentional of what kind of music you are listening to, and what (or who) you are connecting with.
There are many scriptures in the Bible that talk about making noise before the Lord (here are a small handful):
Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! Psalm 47:1
Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise! Psalm 66:1-2
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:1-2
OLD HUNDREDTH
What’s interesting is that in the 1500s John Calvin pushed against traditional church worship procedure. Back then, only certain individuals were allowed to sing. He thought it was more appropriate that ALL people be singing to the Lord in church.
“It is a thing most expedient for the edification of the church to sing some psalms in the form of public prayers by which one prays to God or sings His praises so that the hearts of all may be roused and stimulated to make similar prayers and to render similar praises and thanks to God with a common love.” John Calvin
Not long after that, a hymn called the Old Hundredth (associated with Psalm 100) by Louis Bourgeois, became a popular psalm to be sung by the people. A song that is still recognized and sung by some traditional churches today.
THE HEART
Music is supposed to be on our heart, continually as a means of connecting with the Holy Spirit.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Ephesians 5:18-19
LORD – WRITE IT ON OUR HEARTS
Today I want to look at all of psalm 100. It is a rather short psalm with only five verses. However, it’s not the shortest psalm, that is psalm 117. Because it is relatively short in nature, this may be a good psalm to memorize and tuck in your heart for those times when you are feeling discouraged. God always has a way of lifting us back up when we approach His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100
Let our praise always be to God. I want to encourage you to praise God with gladness and joy. And maybe even with a shout! Don’t be afraid to be excited about worshiping God. A surprising result of doing this actually breaks the chains of the enemy.
The enemy hates it when we are filled with joy and worshiping the Lord. He wants us miserable and depressed, thinking God has forgotten about us or that our situation is hopeless. Praise and worship remind us of God’s goodness and put us back into alignment with Him – the Creator of the Universe!
Here is a free printable of Psalm 100. There is no catch. Simply click on the link above and you are able to print or download.
This will help to memorize the psalm. Pin it somewhere where you see it every day. Recite it morning and night until it’s locked in your heart.
Blessings be upon you!
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