There is something wrong with an assembly of believers gathering together to praise and worship, and to hear and learn the word of God, and yet who show no deep emotion. Many of these believers can get all excited, shout and yell, when watching sports, but what about in praising God? Ought not Christians to be jubilant in praise? Do not Christians have every reason to "celebrate"? How many believers would describe their praise and worship experience in church as "celebratory"? As jubilant? The prophet Amos asked these penetrating questions.
When a lion roars, people are provoked to fear spontaneously. When God speaks to a man, the effect is to make that man speak what God has said to him, as prophets. It is the same with praise utterances. God has saved you, made you his child, promised you eternal life, so how can you keep quiet? How can you fail to be filled with the greatest joy, joy that must be expressed?
Jubilant Celebration
"Sing to him a new song; play skillfully with jubilant shout." (Psa. 33: 3 LEB)
"Jubilant" means to "whoop" or "shout for joy." It comes from the old covenant statute concerning having a "Jubilee" every fifty years. In the year of Jubilee there was great joy as debts were cancelled, inheritance lost was restored, slaves were set free, etc. When the Jubilee was begun with the sound of the ram's horn, it instantly and spontaneously provoked great shouts of joy and praise. For Christians the year of Jubilee has come and we are living in the year of Jubilee. So, why are we not happy? Wrote Isaiah:
"And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." (Isa. 12: 4-6)
"Cry out and shout"! If this is not seen in a church service, then something is amiss. Is it owing to the fact that the people do not realize, in the depth of their being, that God is in their midst? Is it not because they do not fully see God's greatness? "God is greatly to be praised" (Psa. 96: 4; 145: 3; etc.) because he is great. But, the way some praise God you would think God was not so great. The Psalmist, in the verse at the top of this posting, says that believers rejoice "with joy inexpressible (unspeakable) and full of glory." But, when you go to a dry and cold worship service, you do not see this manifested.
Another verse at the heading of this posting says "clap your hands" and "shout with a voice of triumph" and jubilation. There is nothing wrong with getting happy in worship, so long as all things are done decently and in order. Said the Psalmist: "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." (Psa. 98: 4) A "loud noise"? Would that not take away from the solemnity and soberness of the worship? Is not quiet praise better? Quiet praise has its place, no doubt. But, it ought not to predominate or characterize the entire time believers spend together. Who can celebrate and be jubilant quietly? The bible tells us to worship, sing, and praise "with spirit" and this means with a joyous, happy, enthusiastic spirit.
There is a popular song of years ago titled "Celebrate" and the song says "celebrate"! "Celebrate good times, come on! Let's celebrate!" The song speaks of having a worldly "party." It speaks of "enjoying life" by "eating, drinking, and being merry." But, ought not the believer have greater reason to celebrate and to rejoice and be happy? Wrote the Psalmist: "You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased." (Psa. 4: 7)
When pay day comes for the worldly minded unbeliever, he begins his party time. Friday and Saturday nights are the times when the world parties for it is right after pay day and the work week, right after harvest. Unbelievers, like many believers, tremendously enjoy holidays like Christmas, and they get happy. But, why should spiritual celebration not be seen in worship services regularly?
Quenching The Spirit
"Quench not the Spirit." (I Thess. 5: 9)
We must not force the Spirit. We must not follow the flesh in Christian celebration. There are extremes on both sides on this question of jubilant praise. Some go to one extreme and have cold, dry, formal worship services with few amens, hallelujahs, and other such expressions, such as "preach it brother," "that's right," "thank you Lord"! Others, like many in Pentecostal churches and modern liberal mega churches, try to do the work of the Spirit to produce the praises. The beat of drums and the sound of the music should not be what stirs praise, but should rather be the texts of scripture and the ideas contained in them. The Psalmist said: "Praise waits for you, O God, in Zion." (Psa. 65: 1)
God must initiate the praise. I know for my own part that I raise my hands, say amen, hallelujah, thank you Lord, etc. as I am moved by the Spirit. I am sure that many, during times of worship, feel like saying "amen" or "hallelujah" but do not do so because they think it is out of place (especially in churches where this is not common). But, this is a quenching of the Spirit I do believe. We have need of moderation in praise, not going to extremes. Just give me that old time religion!
What think ye?
1 comment:
There have been many a soul converted because of the shouts and praise of the saints of God. To a a former drunk, a former prisoner, a former abuser give thanks and praise to God for changing their life and saving their soul, must seer into the conscience of an unbeliever what God does. To see someone who has been set free spill out praise to the one who redeemed them,paves the way and is nothing short of the arms of Jesus open wide to receive us. Amen!
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