Joy in Worship

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
2 The Lord has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

~ Psalm 98:1-2

How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her Young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.

~ Psalm 84:1-3

Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and greatness. Music has been a part of creation since the begging of time. Birds sing their song Trees rustles and strain with the blowing of the wind. Seas pound or gently in rhythmic waves on the shores. In the human experience, music resonates with the depths of our souls.

Modern worship services sometimes are more of a show than they are interactive experiencing. Worshipers are often sitting in the pews or chairs and encouraged to simply watch what is happening on the stage. In contrast to that, music invites participation; it offers every person in attendance a way to get involved: singing, clapping even moving to the sound. Also music gives people a chance to express what words cannot. In life, a groan or a laugh can mean far more than words to describe our inner thoughts and hearts. Music touches our emotions in such a way that we are literally able to feel our communication with God, its brings joy to the souls. 

In Psalm 98 is expression of jubilant, joyful worship.With trumpets blasting, hands clapping, and people singing  and shouting for joy, there is a great celebration of all the wounderful things God has done and all creation joins in.

Every day in our lives can show that we are bringing joyful worship to God. Our lives are the music that tells the story of the redemption and hope we have in Christ Through our lives, others hears the joyful music of what living in relationship with a loving God is all about. And hopefully they will want to be a part of that music too.

Chaplain Patrick Koroma serves as one of our Hospice Chaplains at PruittHealth Hospice in Atlanta, GA.