This verse is from the song of praise written by David on the occasion of bringing the Ark of the Covenant "home". King David appointed priests to play the instruments and lead the Israelites in worship and song as they processed into the city. Everything was handled with reverence and according to the law of Moses. David, himself, was dressed in fine linen and priestly garments as befitted this holy occasion. But this reverent event wasn't a somber, dry occasion. On the contrary, you might remember the story of David's wife witnessing the scene from her window and being embarrassed by her husband's dancing in the streets. The verse in 1 Chronicles says "she despised him in her heart." It wasn't as if David was the only one celebrating in this manner. The Bible says "all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres." (1 Chron. 15:28)
The psalm David wrote also contains this verse: "Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day." (1 Chron. 16:23) David and his people had much to celebrate: they had been victorious in battle, David was the Israelites' much-loved new king after Saul's death, and, at long last, the ark was coming home where it belonged among God's chosen people. It was important to remember and re-tell the many ways God had been faithful to his people - to recount his works of salvation.
Paul writes, in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes". Paul suffered so much on behalf of the gospel he so boldly proclaimed and yet he never stopped preaching and spreading the Good News. His life was truly a life of hardship and yet he wrote verses like these:
- I am overflowing with joy (2 Corinthians 7:4)
- for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, (1 Thessalonians 3:9)
- making my prayer with joy (Philippians 1:4)
We have the same opportunity to recount the ways God has been faithful, to tell of his provision, comfort, peace - his salvation. We, too, should be dancing in the streets! When we gather as a faith community to worship God, to remember and recount his faithfulness, what do we see on each other's faces? Is it a somber, dry occasion or do we see faces reflecting joy and thanksgiving? When we sing our hymns and songs of praise, what is showing on our faces: boredom? complacency? distractedness? Or do we take the time to reflect on the words we're hearing and singing and respond in praise and thanksgiving? Tomorrow morning, many of us will be gathering in our churches for our time of worship. Just as King David prepared himself dressing in fine linen and priestly garments - putting on his "garments of praise" - let's prepare ourselves to approach our gathering time with hearts filled with joy and thanksgiving, ready to "enter his courts with praise".
"Sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be held in awe above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him,
strength and joy are in his place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O clans of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness . . . . " (1 Chron. 16:23-29)
Pray that we can know in our hearts the truth of Paul's words "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation" and know in our spirits the joy of the Lord.
Beautifully written - love the message.
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