Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord

“Praise the Lord! [Hallelujah!] Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty Heavens! Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness! Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings [stringed instruments] and pipe [horns, woodwinds], praise Him with the clash of cymbals [percussion, drums], praise Him with resounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord [sing]! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:1-6 NIV

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:1 NIV

“The living, the living—they praise You, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about Your faithfulness. The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the Temple of the Lord!” Isaiah 38:19-20 NIV

Throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Scriptures of God are filled with the commandment to praise the Lord God, Lord of Hosts; to sing to Him songs about His great power, mercy, love and wonderful deeds! We are commanded to sacrifice praise to Him with our voices, with all of our instruments, with all musical gifts as part of God’s Holy Temple. The musicians in the Holy Temple were also the Priests. Music has always been considered by God as Holy unto Him, and we are commanded to use those gifts for His Glory. He desires to be worshipped in this way by all of His Holy Congregations whenever they gather for convocation or service. He desires musical praise from the hearts of His people. In the end, all creation will sing His praises! Hallelujah!

“He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol [petition, speak], thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

“That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced, you His servants, the descendants of Israel, His chosen ones, the children of Jacob. He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.” 1 Chronicles 16:7-14 NIV

“When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” Ezra 3:10-11 NIV

“God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him? Who has prescribed His ways for Him, or said to Him, ‘You have done wrong’? Remember to extol His work, which people have praised in song. All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.” Job 36:22-25 NIV

When we give the Sacrifice of Praise to God, we are also providing a way for His Holy Spirit to unleash great power. He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). His power is displayed in the praises of His People. He has all power. He is God, the Lord of Hosts, God of Gods. When we sing, and make praises unto God, He acts for us as our Heavenly Father. He acts on our behalf to vanquish foes, to heal hearts, to protect from harm, and for our Salvation. Our faith in God is exhibited in our praise from our hearts.

“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His Holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 NIV

“In all this [trials, troubles and tribulations] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV

“For in the Day of Trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent [Tabernacle] and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord [sacrifices of praise and worship]. Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.” Psalm 27:5-7 NIV (This is a Psalm, or Song, of David.)

“I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior! The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music [David]. On my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:18-19 NIV

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:13-14 NIV

“You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.” Psalm 30:11-12 NIV

We are not only commanded to give Him praise when we are joyful, but when we are in need, as well. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. The praises sung to God and Christ Jesus will not only save us, but will lift up the broken spirit, and restore a broken soul. We are commanded, gently, by our loving Father that when we are in trouble, when we are sick, when we are in low spirit, when our souls are tormented… praise Him! Sing Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory in the Heavens. Through the praise of children and infants You have established a stronghold against Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of Your hands; You put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas [we are put here to tend the Earth and care for His creation]. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:1-9 NIV (a Psalm, or Song, of David: Jesus quotes this to the Pharisees in Matthew 21:16)

The sweet sound of children singing is so precious to God. It is a powerful sound. Darkness cannot endure it. That is why Satan has always tried to attack it. That is why the innocent child-like faith is so important to God and Christ Jesus. In their innocence, praise is perfected! In their closeness to God, praise becomes powerful! In their preciousness and child-like faith, praise becomes all encompassing, with the Holy Spirit permeating ever sound and syllable. It is praise perfected, so much so that Christ Jesus even says so. The angels must stop and joyfully weep at the pure innocent sound of children singing praises to God. One day we will all be gathered as His children to sing Him a New Song, one like no other.

“I will sing a new song to You, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre [like a modern guitar] I will make music to You, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers His servant David.” Psalm 144:9-10 NIV

Remember, God gives the gifts of music to His chosen, just as any gift of the Holy Spirit. Not all are musicians, but we are all called to sing His praises in all of the congregation and gatherings of the saints of Christ Jesus and peoples of God. He wants to hear it. He wants us to glorify His Son, and what He has done. We are made a kingdom of priests and kings through Christ Jesus!

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day! Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples!” Psalm 96:1-3 NIV

“See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare [Revelation 21:5]; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands [a reference to the lands of the scattered people of Israel, other ten tribes], and all who live in them. Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.” Isaiah 42:9-11 NIV

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” Psalm 98:1-3 NIV

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre [like a modern guitar]. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Psalm 33:1-3 NIV

“Praise the Lord! [Hallelujah!] Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns the humble with victory. Let His faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds!” Psalm 149:1-5 NIV

“And when he [the Lamb of God] had taken it [the Scroll], the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:8-10 NIV

“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” Revelation 14:1-3 NIV

“For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for is mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles [Deuteronomy 32:43]; I will sing the praises of Your name.” Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His people.” Romans 15:8-10 NIV

“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come [Kingdom of God]. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:14-16 NIV

“Both the One who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing Your praises.” And again, “I will put my trust in Him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.” Hebrews 2:11-13 NIV

Dear pilgrims, dear brothers and sisters, dear children of God; it is not the “traditions of men” to have music in churches or in synagogues. It does not detract from the worship and focus of God to have a worship band, or song service before the message, but rather sets the tone and the true focus. A service that opens with praise is set for worship and a listening ear, and encourages a heart ready to receive. That is why Satan wants it to be done away with, or corrupted. It is what God Himself commanded of us. He wants us to praise Him with song, with all instruments, and with all of our hearts, souls, and minds.

God inhabits the praises of His people. There is the tangible evidence of the Holy Spirit. When His people gather together to sing to Him, it is the sweetest sound one can ever hear. All voices join in joyous harmony, great and small, young and old, for nothing else other than to praise His name. That is something missing in this world today. Yes, churches may have music, if at all, but it is the same as a music concert put on by any person in the world. What God is looking for is that Holy Spirit praise that He can inhabit, all voices joined in unison like that great Holy Choir of Angels in Heaven. We will join them one day to sing that New Song unto Him. Until then, make a joyful noise unto the Lord, for He has done marvelous things! Amen!

Painting: “David Playing the Harp” by Gerard van Honthorst, c.1622