Shout for Joy / David Jeremiah

 

Shout for Joy Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. Psalm 33:3    Parents and teachers are often heard reminding young children to “use your inside voice.” In biblical days, “shouting” was encouraged and practiced, mostly as a means of praise during times of worship or in moments of victory. In fact, Psalm 33:3 implies that singing and shouting with joy were parallel activities (Psalm 5:11; 32:11; 35:27).

Recommended Reading: Psalm 65: 13

What did this shouting sound like? Sometimes it was a combination of singing, weeping, and shouts of praise to God all at the same time (Ezra 3:10-13). When Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt, “the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices,” shouting out quotations from Psalms (Luke 19:37, NIV). In our day, no one has to tell a crowd of thousands to shout and cheer when their team scores points—shouting with joy is instinctive. If we shout for joy over temporal victories in life, how much more is God deserving of our shouts of joy in song and in word? Joy is the operative word—shouting and singing are just the means to the end of praise. Be bold in your worship! Sing and shout joyfully to God for His eternal victory. Only to sit and think of God, oh what a joy it is! Frederick W. Faber