Thoughts for the Day
Friday, 12th June 2020: Make a joyful noise!
Sing Joy Hymns Psalm 100 Jubilate Deo God
Reading : Verses from Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he that 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 for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Thoughts
If you've ever attended Matins (Morning Prayer) in an Anglican parish church somewhere in the world you will have probably said or sung Psalm 100. You may know it as the Jubilate Deo. Even its name sounds cheerful, and its first line more so. In this translation the psalm says 'Make a joyful noise to the Lord', but others have 'Make a joyful shout to the Lord', and notice that it is 'all the earth' that is called to shout joyfully. We are also called to 'come into his presence with singing'.
Married for 50+ years to a Welshman who couldn't sing I have some sympathy for anyone who is groaning at this point. Although when his dementia advanced he no longer cared and would sing loudly, totally out of tune, but happy to be worshipping God with others. We now know that singing makes us happy - it releases endorphins in the brain, which are feel-good chemicals. Equally it is hard to think of anything else when you sing, it can get rid of a headache and put things into perspective for me.
So here's the challenge today, SING JOYFULLY (and never mind who's listening - God will be after all)! If you need help click on the following site, below. The index will give you many hymns. I would also point out that there are many free utube videos online with hymns, if your computer is up to this!
Prayer
Lord God,
We praise and worship You
for all Your gifts to us,
and especially for Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Make us ever thankful,
and joyful to serve You
now and in the future.
Amen.