Joy and Shouting

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;

And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 32:11 (NKJV)

I have done a lot of shouting in my lifetime. I was a cheerleader during some of my school days. Shouting in that position was expected. However, my husband can testify that there have been other times I have shouted. (Might I add, I’m not proud of those times!)

Do you ever shout? Well, did you know that God commands us to shout? Our verse for today is only one of many times that God says, "Shout for joy!” And so, I introduce you to our couple of the day, Joy and Shouting. When exuberant joy in the Lord is experienced, a believer naturally wants to shout praises to God.

After God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, He gave the Israelites specific instructions on how He was to be worshiped. A redeemed people long to worship God. Leviticus 9 describes the events that took place the first time Aaron and his sons led the people of Israel in worship. After sacrifices were made, fire came out of the Presence of the Lord and consumed the offerings, showing that God was pleased. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown (Leviticus 9:24).

When is the last time you saw God work in a mighty way, and you could not stifle a shout? Perhaps the numbers of times we have shouted praise to God is indicative of our joy factor!

Ok, believer, will you join me? Will you warm up those pipes and shout for joy to the Lord for the great things He has done? It would be good for each of us to practice now, for one day in heaven we will all be shouting together: Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude…shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” (Revelation 19:6-7).

Lord, fill us with joy that overflows into shouting Your praise!

Jan Burkhart