Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. – Psalm 100:1 (NIV)
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. – Psalm 100:1 (KJV)
Theme: Living According to God’s Word
Shout!
Not “share joyful thoughts quietly with your friends.”
Not “speak reverently about your happiness.”
No…this psalm encourages us to shout for joy to the LORD.
The Hebrew word translated here as “shout” is “rua” (pronounced roo-ah’), which means “to yell jubilantly.” In Biblical times “rua” would refer to a battle cry or the type of shouting an excited crowd would display as they welcome a victorious king back from battle. Today, sporting events might provide a better example. This weekend literally millions of us will stand up and shout for our favorite sports team or our kids’ athletic events. That’s how excited we should be to shout for joy to our LORD.
Psalm 100 is a beautiful passage that inspired many of the praise songs we sing. Let’s close with the entire chapter…
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
– Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)
