Psalm 98:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 Make a joyful noise unto
the Lord, all the earth: make
a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
As I write this, the world is in Russia watching the FIFA
World Cup playoffs. Stadiums are full of fans who have gathered for two hours
of a game between the teams of two different countries. When a player makes a
great play, the whole stadium seems to rock under the roar of the gathered
soccer aficionados. Around the world, people gather in pubs to watch the play
and shout their feelings.
We were in Monterey, Mexico, during another playoff some
years ago. Our host took his TV out onto his front patio, connected big speaker
boxes to it, and all the neighbors gathered around. Even here great roars of
approval would echo up and down the street as people expressed their enthusiasm
for their home team’s performance.
What benefit did these millions of enthusiasts gain when
their team scored a goal? From their responses one would think that this gave
them long life and great wealth. When the home team would do poorly or when the
competing team would score a goal, a loud moan of anger and pain would escape
their lips. If one didn’t know better, one would wonder if the watching throng
had just suffered incalculable loss. The supporters would debate long and vociferously
about what the players should have done.
The liturgical church service I attend and often participate
in is a carefully orchestrated performance that has every part carefully laid
out and coordinated to fit exactly into a given time slot. We have grand music
performed by a professional on a magnificent pipe organ. I must confess I love
the magnificence of the music. I sit back and close my eyes and allow the organ
waves of praise to God to thrill my every nerve, marrow, and fiber. If the
music is especially moving, I will allow myself to respond with a subdued,
reverent “Amen.” Otherwise, I follow the hymn’s injunction to “let all the
earth keep silence before Him!”
When, on occasion, I read the liturgy, I do my best to read
it meaningfully and with careful dignity. I would be stunned if what I read
elicited a heartfelt response, no matter the sense of what I read, even if it
came from the verse listed above: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,
all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”
For some reason we just don’t worship God that way! Is this Laodiceanism?[ii]
If so then God tells us he will spit us out of his mouth.
Lord, I love You for
what You have done for me! Use my voice and my very soul to praise You with
appropriate enthusiasm.
[i]
https://es.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/photos/galleries/y=2014/m=9/gallery=ea-sportstm-fifa-15-for-sony-playstation-3-2444281.html
