Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn–
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the LORD,
Psalm 98:4-9
Creation is so undignified!?!?! And so are some of God’s people!
The prophetess Miriam and her fellow Israelites exulted in God’s salvation in a dance with tambourines (Exodus15:20-21). King David and his soldiers danced before the Lord “with all their might,” accompanied by music of the loudest variety (2 Samuel 6:5,14-15). Even John the Baptist, while still a baby in his mother’s womb, leaped for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1:44).
The root meanings of the biblical words for joy themselves reflect this element of rejoicing. One means literally to jump for joy; another means to sound a trumpet. One refers to a loud, ringing cry; still another to the shattering force of exultation. And one was used originally to describe the way spring lambs frisk and skip in the meadow!
Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always, He says it again Rejoice! I believe he was insisting not only that we direct our attention to God’s goodness and beauty, but also that we allow the resulting joy to come pouring out of us. “Speak to one another,” he urged, “with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). Paul was only echoing the exuberance of Jesus, who had told His disciples that when they rejoice they should “leap for joy” (Luke 6:23).
If you should find yourself in boisterous celebration, you are on to a very, very good thing indeed!!!!!