Daily Devotions
Shout to God With Songs of Joy!
Reading for June 13th: Psalms 43-49
Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
Psalm 47:1-2
Why should we shout to God with loud songs of joy?
The LORD, the Most High, is to be feared!
Does that sound at all strange to you? Why should a fearful God evoke joyous praise?
First of all, it should be said that the "fear" of God is not what you might think. Fear is not synonymous with being in terror or dread (see Exodus 20:20). The idea is more to be in awe of God and amazed by him (and that carries with it an element of dread, but that's not the main idea).
The reason why we joyously praise our God, who is fearful, is that he is OUR God. Would you want your God to be a small God? Would you want your God to be one who doesn't provoke feelings of awe and wonder?
The reason why we sing loud songs of joy is because we sing to the Most High God, a great king over all the earth!
Father, with fear and great joy we sing loudly your praises this day!
