For the music director, a psalm for the sons of Korah.
Clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of joy! Psalm 47:1-2, TLV
Voice of Joy! Well, today’s verse is a blast from the past! One of the first non-hymnal songs hubby and I learned after getting “saved” was Psalm 47 — the whole thing. I can still hear the lively guitars strumming and boisterous clapping. We loved this song and sang it at nearly every Wednesday prayer meeting. Oh, how we loved to worship the LORD and would witness to anything with two legs. The joy and fervor.
Sigh. Where did that go?
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:14, TLV
Sometimes we want to recapture the wonder and joy of that season as babies redeemed by Jesus. Those joyful voices like babbling infants. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But we have something even better now, because we have lived and walked and learned — triumphed and failed.
Psalm 51 is King David’s prayer of repentance and restoration after Nathan the prophet told David the parable of the little lamb. David was felt the overwhelming conviction of his sins of adultery and murder. Toward the end of his prayer, in verse 14, he asks GOD to restore the joy of GOD’s salvation. His was a voice longing for joy.
This season of joy may not feel joyful
In this season, we may be struggling over loss, failure, pain, sorrow, uncertainty. Others’ attempts at comfort may grate against our soul, and that’s okay. Accept the well-meaning offerings. But, remember that we can pray that our heavenly Father will restore the joy of His salvation in our life. That He would sustain us with a spirit that wants to move toward healing and restoration and hope.
Life happens. Joy is a choice.
Did you know joy is a choice?
Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4, TLV
When my earthly daddy died, I was tied up with helping my mother take care of legal details in Missouri for a month. Meanwhile, back in Delaware, Bob was dealing with a major challenge with our daughter — something that crushed what was left of my broken heart. Once I returned, Bob and I attended services. Normally, we would sit toward the front of the sanctuary, but I just couldn’t. We sat in the back row. When the praise and worship began, I wept and wanted to leave. Then I “heard”:
A sacrifice of praise honors Me …” Psalm 50:23a, TLV
I chose to praise Him and I was able to worship in a way I had never done before. With a shaky, goopy voice, I sang. It was truly a sacrifice of praise, and GOD received it. In return, a sweet peace covered me like a warm, soft blanket. I still blubbered, but it was a bittersweet cry that held me tight in His embrace.
Yes, despite any trial we go through, we can choose joy. Quiet joy. Exuberant joy. Clapping joy. Sacrificial joy. It doesn’t matter what the voice sounds like, choose joy.
