Make a joyful noise to the LORD!

Introduction

The title of Psalm 98, and today’s study, is “Make a joyful noise to the LORD!”… 

Do you feel that you are here today with that intention? Is that what motivated you to come this morning?

I don’t know what kind of week you have had, or what you have been experiencing in your life recently. I am sure it will be different for everyone of us. 

For some, we might be having a wonderful time, and we see God blessing us in wonderful ways. We might be walking around with grateful hearts and big smiles on our faces. We know we are in a good place. 

For others, our experience of life might be the very opposite. We might be impacted by really great challenges and we might have found it a real struggle to be here. Perhaps we find ourselves here today out of a sense of habit and hope that coming along will somehow give us some comfort, or if we are honest, make God notice that we are trying so he might let life get a bit better for us.

Or we might be somewhere in between these positions with normal life and normal experiences. 

I raise these thoughts because I want us to think about what it is that can align us with this direction in Psalm 98 to “make a joyful noise to the LORD”. Is it only when life is going well that we can have joyful hearts, or is it something we can have and experience no matter what the circumstances in life are?

And what do we understand by the term joy or joyful when we read these verses? Does it mean we are to put a brave face on and smile through the trauma? 

Well Psalm 98 is going to address these issues and, as we will see, it is not on the basis of how we feel, and how life is going for us, but on the basis of who God is, what he has done, what he is doing and what he will do. 

It is a God centred, gospel centred and glory centred reminder of where we experience and express joy.

And before we look at this Psalm, we need to be careful not to be dismissive of the difficulties we experience, and the reality of our genuine emotions. If you are hurting this morning, this is not going to be a message dismissive of that, and I hope it will be an encouragement to help you realise that in the midst of all that you are experiencing there is hope, and comfort, and promises that can help you. 

And for us all, I hope it will be the focus to recognise that joy is not driven by our circumstances but in knowing and remembering all that God has done for us through Christ our Saviour.

So, let’s take time to consider this Psalm more closely and be challenged and changed by what God has to reveal to us today.

Background

Psalm 98 starts with a direction to sing to the LORD a new song. And the reason for this song is because God has done marvellous things! 

The direction to sing a new song, is not driven by recognising that God has done something different, or is it driven by a new revelation, but is probably simply driven by renewed recognition of what God has done and will do. Just as we have volumes of hymns and worship songs capturing many elements of our praise, adoration, appeal and so on, towards God, so this Psalm is probably doing likewise in adding another new song to the catalogue.

For all the marvellous things that we could consider that God has done, and which would merit songs of praise and worship, the Psalm is very much focused on one particular marvellous thing that is foundational, unchanging, and not determined by our experience or circumstances out with that thing. 

It is the thing that, no matter what we are experiencing in life, can draw us joyfully to praise and worship God. It is the one thing that even through tears and trials, will draw us to the reality of Godly joy, and that is God’s sacrificial, redeeming, salvation in our lives.

And the Psalm is structured around the following themes of salvation:

1. God remembers, reveals, and redeems.
2. The Response.
3. Righteous justice for all.

We will consider these separately. So, let’s start with the first

theme -

God remembers, reveals and redeems

We are going to consider the revealing of God’s redemption, resulting in salvation for us, within the past and future context of this Psalm.

And we need to recognise that our salvation is completely and utterly a work of God, as we see from verse 1,

His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

This reference to hands and arms is a reminder of salvation being a gift from the hand of God, through the power of God (his holy arm) to the possession and purpose of God. 

What do I mean by that? 

Well, we often think about salvation being purely something we benefit from. That is, God saved us for our sakes. Whilst that is clearly true, it is also important to recognise that we are saved to draw us to God. We are saved to draw us to praise and worship and serve God as he deserves. We are saved to live in a loving relationship with God, so that God can express his abundant love and goodness as he loves to do. 

You might need a bit of time to process that thought.

But to help us consider it further, we need to consider what this salvation is and how it has been revealed.

First we need to consider this in the context of past revelation and salvation from the perspective of when this Psalm was written. We see this set out in verses 2 -3a.

The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.

We use terms like redemption and salvation very freely in church settings, but to provide help to remember what these are referring to we are drawn to a picture of being freed from servitude and slavery. The past context for the people of Israel to recognise God’s salvation for them takes them back to the time of slavery in Egypt. Their situation was desperate. They were under brutal enslavement to the most powerful nation in the known world at that time, and their circumstances, humanly speaking, were hopeless.

They had been a people chosen by God to be his special people. They were loved by God, and had received many promises from God of great blessing and hope. Yet here they were – and they were feeling forgotten and alone. Yet we know this was part of God’s purpose and plans to reveal to Egypt and many other nations his power, and his love for his people.

This is what is referenced in verse 3, in God remembering his steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel. It is not that God forgot about them, even if that is what they felt, it is a way of them expressing God’s revelation to them by freeing them from the grip of Egypt. 

They had been saved, they had been reminded of God’s love and power. It was a reminder of how powerless they were without God. It was to draw them to remember that, and to connect them to God in a faithful and dependent way.

But not only was it a revelation to Israel but it was also a powerful revelation to the might and majesty of God to the nations that heard of all that God had done, and who encountered the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness to the promised land.  

And yet, as we read on from this point of history in our bibles, we know that even though God had shown his love towards them, and blessed them in many ways by giving them victory over their enemies, and bringing them into a new land flowing with milk and honey, these good things did not draw them to respond joyfully. They soon fell into disobedience, and rebellion and sought after other Gods. 

And time and time again Israel fell into a cycle of rebellion, enslavement, repentance, and salvation. God would continue to display his love and his power to save his people. God would continue to reveal that he is the Almighty, one true God.

And yet, as I mentioned already, the revealing of God’s salvation is not just captured in the past as a reminder, but also as a promise and prophecy to a future salvation of a chosen people. This time not just evident to the nations who encountered and heard of the nation of Israel, but one day it would be a revelation to the whole world. We see this referenced in verse 3b,

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

That is the revelation that came when God himself, came in the form of man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, to be the redemption, to offer salvation, for the whole world. First to Israel, and then to everyone. 

Again it was a revelation and gift through the hands of God nailed to a cross as a sacrifice for all men and women who are enslaved in sin and rebellion against him. A sacrifice that brings forgiveness and relationship with God as his holy and loved children. A sacrifice that paid the price we could never pay to save us from the eternal punishment we deserve. 

The revelation of the power of God to conquer sin and death, and be raised from death as a promise and hope for us all of eternal life after death.

And this is the great revelation. God has made our salvation possible, not because of what we have done to deserve it, but because he is God who loves us. Just as God never forgot Israel even though they messed up time and time again, God will not forget us. God has paid a price to save us and he will not give up on his investment. God has expressed his love for you in the most powerful way in giving his life for yours. 

What more does God need to demonstrate to you for you to appreciate how much he loves you?

I sometimes think we all too easily lose sight of that reality. We sometimes become complacent to that message and truth. We hear it so often we forget to reflect on it as our constant assurance in living out our lives. We get so caught up in our issues. We get distracted by the good times, we get lost in looking for fixes in our troubles.

But if we truly grasp this, and truly grasp how desperate our situation is without God’s saving intervention in our lives, and truly grasp what it means to be forgiven and accepted as his child, then perhaps we will find the true blessing and perspective we need to live in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. 

We can also take further encouragement from the past and future salvation reference, that Christ’s coming as the future salvation is evidence of a God who keeps his promises. Salvation for the whole world was promised and that promise was kept. We can have confidence and assurance in God’s word, and God’s promises.

As we reflect on God’s salvation revealed in our lives, the Psalm then draws us to the expected response. And as we will see our salvation should not only draw an appropriate response from us, but it draws a response from all God’s creation.

The Response

Verses 4 – 6 direct us to the appropriate response.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 

Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

Irrespective of whatever else we are experiencing, if we focus on our salvation in Christ, we can still be drawn to praise and worship. For many this may sound strange, and the last thing they would think appropriate if they are facing challenges. But we see time and time again through the Psalms, and the whole bible, those experiencing troubles and hardship turn their attention to praising God. Indeed, these Psalms are expressions of joy to be sung and accompanied by music. 

Our joy is to be expressed audibly so others can hear. It is to be expressed melodically, beautifully, harmoniously together with other believers.

Verses 4 – 6 are very clear on that. But I think where most of us might struggle with this is in our understanding of how we can express a joyful noise. It is the problem of our understanding of the term – joy. 

Again, I think many will associate joy simply as a good feeling, a happy feeling, a grateful feeling. And that is true – it is these things. But it is also something much deeper than that. It is something which transcends our emotions, and our circumstances. 

It is an expression, or declaration, of confidence in God’s promises, in our position in Christ. It is a spiritual gladness and gratitude which we receive through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. It works against all our human instincts and emotions to lift our heads and hearts to look up and find hope and wonder in Almighty God. It is not artificial or contrived – it is not just putting a brave face on it.

The American Pastor, John Piper, defined Christian joy as “a good feeling produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.”

Psalm 98 is drawing us to the whole purpose and revelation of Jesus in our bibles. He is the revealed word of God. From beginning to end it is about him. And in this world, it is drawing our attention to his place as creator, and also, the hope and salvation for a broken creation.

We see this in verses 7 – 8,

Let the see roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together

It would be easy to write these verses off as some kind of poetic hyperbole, or strange imagery of rivers with hands and singing hills. It sounds weird to many, and yet there is something expressed in this which reflects the majesty and glory of God before His creation, and also acts as a warning to mankind who fails to properly acknowledge the sovereignty of God and worship him accordingly.

We know from Genesis that when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, the creation was cursed and broken. Death and decay entered into the world. 

We often forget that it is not just mankind which had to deal with consequences of our brokenness and rebellion. So, we are being reminded that the salvation of all creation is predicated on the revealing of God’s salvation for mankind. This would then bring about the restoring and renewing of creation to it’s new glory. 

And so here we have this incredible picture of the created elements making a joyful noise in recognition of all that God has done.

The Apostle Paul captures this in Romans 8: 18-22, as he reflects on this future glory for mankind and all creation.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself would be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Now I am not going to make too much of this thought, but I want you to consider that this is not simply poetic language being expressed. I remember having a chat with someone who thought I was a bit nuts for thinking the hills could actually sing, and rivers could clap. 

I think there was barrier to this for them as it is not something we experience now, or our “logical” minds allow. But I think we need to consider this beyond imagery and consider this in terms of the reality of the glory and wonder of an Almighty God, and that he is so glorious that even what we see as inanimate cannot contain expressions of praise and worship. If we limit our thinking and wonder of God to limits of the human mind and experience then we are undermining and undervaluing who he truly is. 

This is the God who brought dust to life in the form of Adam. A God who brought all creation out of nothing. A God who became man and walked this earth. A God who brought the dead to life, and who raised himself from the dead. A God who is without beginning or end. I could go on. 

How can we limit that God to our logic, and how can we limit how the creation he gave life to can or will respond to him?

But I think the most important aspect of what is expressed in the Psalm is actually a warning to us all, and it is something Jesus himself warned those of his day about. We read about this in Luke chapter 19 as Jesus is entering Jerusalem and the crowds are shouting out praise and worshipping him. The religious leaders were incensed at this, and we read in verses 39-40,

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He (Jesus) answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

So, if even the stones can recognise the need to make a joyful noise to the Lord, then how much more should we?

Righteous justice for all

And as we consider the last part of the Psalm we recognise that this joyful noise is necessary, not just for the recognition of what our salvation means for us now, but what it will mean for all eternity.

The Psalm concludes in verse 9,

for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

This reminds us that this world is not the end. This life is not the end. There is more to come. God will judge everyone fairly and justly. For those of who have put our trust in Jesus, our salvation, we have nothing to fear.

If we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have eternity to look forward to. We have our place with Jesus where we will see him as he is, and where there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more brokenness. We will make the most joyful noise for ever and ever. 

However, if you are here today and that is not you, then you do not have that same outcome. There is a harsh reality ahead, and you will be judged and rejected by God. And that is an awful reality to contemplate. However, there is hope for you and Jesus can save you from that. We don’t have time to discuss now, but don’t leave without speaking to me or someone more about this.  

Conclusion

There is so much we can consider in our study today, but let me draw our time and considerations to a conclusion.

The lesson in Psalm 98 is not to dismiss the challenges we face, and the times of hardship and grief we experience. It is not about putting a brave face on it when our hearts are breaking, but it is about revealing to us the heights and wonders of what God has done for us through Jesus. 

It is not saying our pains are not significant but it is reminding us that our salvation is the most significant and towers above everything else. It is where we find our assurance, our joy and our hope. It reminds us that as believers, as God’s children -

We may lose our health, but we can never lose our souls.

We may lose friends, and loved ones, but we can never lose our greatest friend, and the one who loves us the most.

We may have times of struggle with finances and work, but we will never lose the provision of the one who gives us our daily bread. The one who will always provide what we need when we need it.

Our joy can be expressed in happiness, or tears. In abundance or in lacking. Because if we focus on the vastness and importance of what Jesus has done for us, and the vastness of his love for us, it draws us to reflect on him. 

It draws us to hope and assurance in his love. It draws us to realise that we are not forgotten. Whatever else we cannot understand about our circumstances at the time, we can understand that God paid too high a price to save us to just forget about us. 

It is something those who don’t know Jesus cannot express. It is something they cannot understand. But it is something in us which can be a powerful testimony and witness to the power and love of God in whom we trust. The credible Christian is a faithful and joyful witness in grief and gladness.

We have many songs we can sing to LORD. We have many opportunities collectively to make a joyful noise. Some songs we sing can be a more reflective and quiet, and others can be more expressive and lively. 

As we are gifted with the opportunity to sing joyfully to the LORD we are reminded of who he is, and what he has done, and we are also reminded that we are blessed with brothers and sisters who can share in these songs with us. 

Will what we have considered today draw us to sing a new song to the Lord in our own lives? I hope that we will all be encouraged to make that song a joyful noise to the Lord.