Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. (Ps. 98:4)
IT’S FASCINATING TO READ Scripture passages about the earth praising God. The earth is to burst into jubilant song? Just what kind of music does the earth make? Would that be thunder or rain falling or streams burbling? And the sea is to resound and everything in it. Do fish sing and we just never hear them? The rivers are to clap their hands and the mountains to sing together for joy. Is this fanciful poetry or does the earth truly make music to the Lord?
I like pondering how the earth might make music, but if the earth is commanded to praise God, how much more should we? How much more should we be full of praise—we, who have been saved and live in relationship with this wonderful God?
I flunked piano lessons and now wish I could play the piano to worship God. But any of us can sing; the point is praise—stop our frantic running and make time to praise God. But we will have to schedule the time; it won’t magically happen.
What if you spent some time today making up a little song of praise, using the circumstances of your life? “Thank You, Lord, for my lovely cat and the daffodils on my table that remind me of Your love.” For what would you praise today?
If fish sing praises, so must we.
Kathy Bence lives in Idaho with her professor husband, Phil.
