”Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
Psalm 98:4New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 98:4 ~ Shout for joy to the LORD
Psalm 98:4 commands you and me to shout for joy to the Lord! Actually, Psalm 98 commands everyone to shout for joy to the Lord.
In other words, the Psalmist is commanding us to make a joyful noise unto God. We are to declare God’s Name and Nature with shouts, clapping, dancing, jumping, other outward expressions of praise and instruments.
Most often than not, our praise easily breaks out when we remember what God has done for us in the past. David listed God’s faithfulness and justice to all nations, and His mercy, and salvation as the things that had made him praise God.
We also praise Him when we count all of the blessings and wonderful things He is doing in our present. And we anticipate good, even better days ahead.
But when the storms come or the unwanted happen, our natural response is to lose our shout. We fall silent.
However, our shout for joy to the Lord is not meant to be based on our circumstances. Circumstances are always changing. Sometimes they change in a moment. Then our emotions can waver wildly. Our moods can swing according to our situation.
But our joy is meant to be independent of our circumstances. It is meant to be enthusiastic, spontaneous worship, just like David demonstrated in his life.
The fullness of our joy is found in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). His presence in us makes His joy reside deep within us.
Prayer/Blessing
Lord, I magnify You in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Help me praise You, Amen.
Since God inhabits our praises (Psalm 22:3), it is advisable to go all out in praise to Him. And verse one of Psalm 98 tells us why we should worship joyfully.
