Make a Joyful Noise!

Ephesians 5:18b-20

How do you praise God?  I love to sing - I'll put it right out there.  When I leave worship most Sundays, one of the songs will stay with me at least through the rest of the day, if not into the week.  As I run in the mornings, I often find myself humming an old hymn or a praise song.  Music fills me with joy, and it lifts me out of being me-centered and puts my focus on the Lord.

The Bible is filled with references to music and praising God through song.  After the angel tells Mary that she is going to give birth to the Savior, she sings God's praises - see Luke 1:46-55.  Many scholars think that Philippians 2:6-11 is an early worship song.  And just page through the Psalms - references to music as worship abound. 

But what if music just leaves you cold?   You love the Lord, but all that time spent singing on Sundays would be more profitably spent with longer sermons!  You need to feed your intellect as well as your soul. 

Or you are tired of 'trite' praise songs.  You yearn for the days of the pipe organ, hymns that have stood the test of time, and lyrics that have depth and substance rather than "Jesus is my friend" repeated over and over. 

My friends, the Lord loves us all.  It is clear that Scripture exhorts us to praise God through music.  If you aren't on board with that, ask him to give you a heart that is willing to be willing to Make  a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord!