Prayer: Father, may I approach the level of joyful worship with which the psalmist declares and proclaims to a nation and to me today. You are worthy of all my praise. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 98 key: vs. 4
4 Shout joyfully to Adonai, all the earth.
Break forth, sing for joy, and sing praises.
Attention: There were PA (public address) systems long before Rock-n-Roll, but it was Rock-n-Roll which pumped a rhythm you could not ignore as it shattered the sound barrier. It also damaged the ear drums of many long-term rockers, but it was the cost of being hip!
We use mega-phones and sound devices to get our message across to the masses. The psalmist used his voice, his shouting voice.
Years ago, I had a music group for elementary school age children in a local church. We had a sound system with microphones which we used in rehearsals. Initially, it was foreign for them to hear their voice over the speaker system and many were shy, both boys and girls. I gathered them around and said, I have heard you all outside and at play. I know that you can project your voices into the microphones. Our singing voice isn’t shouting, but I need your big person voice. Their parents were surprised at their singing development.
Let us receive the psalmist’s instructions, to shout unto God a joyful voice of praise when we worship and when we praise Him. Have you ever turned the radio up I your car and sang along? Turn the volume up on your praise today! Shout!
Attention: I will turn the volume up on my voice as I praise the Lord!
Yield: Volume acknowledges freedom!
Engaged: I am involved when the volume increases in my voice.
Relationship: Volume confirms the conviction of my heart.
Prayer: Father, may I express my love and praise for You in a shout today! Hallelujah! Amen.
Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:16
16 For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s shofar, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first
Music Video: SHOUT TO THE LORD (LYRICS)