Make a Joyful Noise; But Why? Psalms 99-101

Psalms 100 (ESV Strong's)

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Make a Joyful Noise; but Why? 

If you invited a plumber to your house, you would expect him/her to plumb!!   If you invited a painter to your house you would expect him/her to paint!!   If you invited a talker to your house you would expect him/her to to talk. Why?  Because they do what they are intended to do.   In the above Psalms we are told to “make a joyful noise to the Lord.”    That is how the song starts off.  But, it is not until the end that it tells us “why” we are to make a joyful name.   At the end of the song it states: “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”    When the plumber leaves and fixes the leak, we are so grateful (and poorer).  We sing the plumbers praise. When the painter leaves and coats the wall, we are so pleased.  We sing the painter’s praise.    When the talker leaves the house, we are so relieved ;-).   Not really!  We appreciated a friend coming to our home and encouraging us with their words.  We sing the praise of our friend.   When God enter’s our lives and shows us His steadfast love we sing His praise.   Why?  Because He loves unconditional and all the time.  We can praise God because He always does what He does right and true.  The plumber, painter and friend can mess up and often do.  But, God is always there and never fails.   We are commanded to rejoice in that truth. Not because we always see it, feel it, or experience it; but because we know it is true.  That is a command.  It is not an option or suggestion.  We are told to “make a joyful noise to the Lord!!”   

When God Calls, Answer!!! - 1 Chronicles 10-14

1 Chronicles 11:1-3 (ESV Strong's)

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.

When God Calls, Answer!!

David was on the run for years from King Saul.  The people of Israel were complicit in Saul’s pursuit of David ... the majority of them.  Yet, in the past, they also shouted David’s praise:

1 Samuel 18:7 (ESV Strong's)

And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

“Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands.”

So, although hunted like a dog, there was a compassion for David.   As a result of Saul’s death (chapter ten), the people needed a new king.  God had put into their hearts a restored and even new desire for David to be king.   God does that kind of stuff.  God opens doors that were once closed.   David knew that God had promised him the kingship.  On two occasions he had a chance to take the kingdom from Saul.  David refused and, by faith, waited until God’s timing was right.   That is the story in the above verses.   When we wait for God’s timeline to unfold, we can see glorious and marvelous things.  We can see them even in the hearts of those who once hated us, hunted us and hurt us.   God is the God of restoration.   David could have, as always, feared for his life.  But, instead he trusted in the power of God to change the hearts of men.   The past can really twist the minds of men.  But, God can still accomplish what He has for us and even untie all the knots in the mindset of mankind.  We are to but answer in faith.  David did not answer these people because he believed them (some of them would, in the future, turn on him again).   David responded to the faithfulness of God and trusted in God’s promises over and above man’s passion and fallacy.  

Bringing Gifts - Numbers 5-8

Numbers 7:1-5 (ESV Strong's)

On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

Bringing Gifts

We often only think of the burden on ourselves when we bring offerings to give to God.   We hold tightly to our money and give God a “tenth” and think that is a big deal.  But, in the above passage we see that when we bring a gift to God, He must receive it from us.    The phrase, “Then the Lord said to Moses ...,” is an important phrase.   God was and is active in our giving.   He is the receiver of our gifts.  He rejoices in them and wants us to rejoice in giving them.    He uses those gifts in the service of the Kingdom.  We need to be more like those who loaded up the carts and wagons.  God did not just take what was in the wagons, God took the entire wagon.   Imagine loading up your car with groceries and delivering them to to someone in your community.  When you tell them you brought them the provisions they rejoice that you brought them food and A CAR!    We don’t think this way.  But, God does.  He gave us the ability to buy the car.    When we realize all things belong to God, we have less of a possession on them ourselves.    We can rejoice in what God gave us so that we can rejoice in what we are giving back to God.  

ONE Mediator - 1 Timothy 1-3

1 Timothy 2:5-7 (ESV Strong's)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

ONE Mediator

We live in a world where there are as many ideas on how to come to God as there are Starbucks on every corner.   Everyone seems to have a voice on who God is and how to approach Him.  Each branch of religious thought even calls God by a different name.   Paul, apparently, had the same challenges in his day.   However, Paul, in the above text, seems to be taking issue head on.   Paul states that there is only ONE mediator between God and man:  Jesus Christ.  AS believers we need to be careful to not get sucked into the mantra of the world that says, “All religious paths lead to the same place: God.”    Or, “All belief is just a path to the same mountain top.”   Nothing could be farther from the truth.   There is only ONE mediator between God and man and He is Christ.   This is who Paul was appointed to preach.  He was to teach Christ and no one and nothing else.   There are many philosophies and many versions of “truth” that attempt to capture us.   But, only Christ mediates between God and man.  Believers today are ridiculed for being so “closed” minded.  We are called “bigots” because we believe that Christ is the ONLY way to come to God.  But, that is the truth Paul taught, the truth we believe, and the truth we are to teach and proclaim.   

That You Might Believe - John 5-6

It is important that you understand John's theme for writing another Gospel. It states it in John 20:31 as follows: "But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." John's gospel was written so that you and I would believe the Jesus was God's son and that in that belief we would have life and not death. In this section of the book we see John's writing providing us with the very words and story we need to believe to have "life in HIs name." The Jewish leaders were not pleased with Jesus doing miracles and especially on the Sabbath. They were furious that He, through His words and actions, was making Himself "equal with God." That was the point!!! It is amazing how religious people can be the most dull when it comes to spiritual things. In these stories and teachings we see that truth demonstrated so much. The teaching of chapter six (eat my flesh - drink my blood) was so difficult that many "disciples" left Jesus at the lecture hall as a result. Peter, being Peter, is quick to add he "gets it." However, earlier in the passage they all sat around scratching their heads. Only God can reveal Biblical truth. Preachers, teachers and the like can make it as clear as day but only God can reveal the truth in it in a way that converts the soul and causes belief. Let's not think we are so "wise" that "we get it" and "others just don't." God reveals truth through writers like John, but it is the Spirit who makes us understand (6:63,34).

Greatly Loved - Daniel 7-12

Daniel 9:23 (ESV Strong's)

At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

Daniel 10:11 (ESV Strong's)

And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

Daniel 10:19 (ESV Strong's)

And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

Greatly Loved

On three occasions, God sends the angel Gabriel to tell Daniel he is greatly loved.   In the midst of receiving revelation after revelation, vision upon vision, and mystery on top of mystery, Daniel receives even something greater than visions ... he is told he is greatly loved by the God of the universe.   When we read these last chapters of Daniel we see that after seeing the many visions God sent him, he was confused and dazed.  

Daniel 7:15 (ESV Strong's)

“As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.

Daniel 7:28 (ESV Strong's)

“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel received the “word of God” but it did not settle on him like we do in church.  He was fearful and trembling at what he heard from God.   But, God took the time to send him the message he needed to hear, “You are greatly loved.”   God sent all of the New Testament believer of this age, the same message, but in a most spectacular why:

Psalms 117:2 (ESV Strong's)

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

Romans 5:6 (ESV Strong's)

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

God loves us.  Unconditionally!!   We can rejoice in that He knows us and still loves us and proved it with the ultimate sacrifice.  

Let It Go!!! (Proverbs 17-18)

Proverbs 17:14

The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

Let it go!! That might be the best phrase to teach us all.  "Just let it go!"   How many times would that advice help us in our navigation through life's challenges with others?   Water has a surprising amount of power as it seeps through cracks and craveous.  Just a small stream can eventual erode some of the strongest fortresses.   It strats small but as the water gains steam and momentum it ushers in certain destruction.    We can't stop it once it gets moving with power.   So, too, a litle stife.  Small in the beginning in mounts up with wings and carries away all those in its path.   We know it is coming.   But, rather than letting a little offense go we turn it into a giant path of destruction.   We make excuses and our feelings move us closer to the edge of outburst.   Biting out tongue, turning our eyes, or squelching our heart is simply something we have to do if we want to stop a quarrel before it has steam to hurt or damage relationships.   If you are wounded by the tongue of another, the look of someone or the words of a friend, let it go.   You will be safer for it.

However, just telling someone to “let it go” is not enough.   We have to also teach them “how” to “let it go.”  When Paul tells us to “put off” our former life (the life we had before we believe in Christ), he tells us “how” to “put off” (or, “let go”):

Ephesians 4:22-23 (ESV Strong's)

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

If we tell people to “let go” of something, then we should also help them “renew” their minds to new thinking patterns.   Paul says the same thing in Romans 12:1-2.   We are to “renew” our minds.   Creating new thoughts, based upon new truth, founded in Christ is the only way to “let it go.”