Friday, May 5, 2017

Psalm 100 Part 2 With Gladness and Singing


"With Gladness and Singing"     

Psalm 100 - Part 2      
    
   
   "Serve the Lord with gladness.  Come before His presence with singing" (Psalm 100:2).

   Our Heavenly Father purposes to fill our hearts with gladness, to the degree He forms a song in our hearts.  He has no interest in our obeying Him with a mere servile discipline wherein we may do what we should do, but without heart and joy.  This does not mean we will always feel happy in our present existence.  The challenges of life often bring emotional sorrow with them.  We will shed our tears as we walk with God, just as did our Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly life (John 11:35; Matthew 26:38).  However, even in times of great difficulty, a deep and abiding gladness can nevertheless accompany the tears: "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (II Corinthians 6:10).

   This leads to praise and thanksgiving that involves more than simply words.  Through the ages, God has led many to add music to the expression of grateful devotion.  There's something about song, whether melody in our hearts or our voices that blesses both the heart of God and our own hearts.  The Bible frequently calls us to "sing unto the Lord" (Psalm 30:4).  Such expression makes the blessed times all the more blessed, and ministers comfort in time of trouble and sadness.  Indeed, regarding the latter, the Psalmist of the Old Testament raised the question, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (137:4).  The Apostle of the New Testament answers: "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19).  The indwelling Holy Spirit given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus composes a song of grace in those who trust and submit themselves to Him.  Thereby much beauty is added to our walk with the Lord, and much capacity to better enjoy our blessings, and overcome our challenges.

   Long ago, the Lord severely chastised His earthly people Israel, chiding the Jews "because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things" (Deuteronomy 28:47).  We must therefore seek to know the Lord and His truth so well that gladness accompanies our journey as the fruit of God's involved presence in our lives.  He calls us to serve Him accordingly in the determination to "rejoice in the Lord always", and with expectation of a song of grateful appreciation in our hearts and upon our lips.

"I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O thou most High."
(Psalm 9:2)

Weekly Memory Verse
   For the law was given by Moss, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
(John 1:17).
   
   

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