Read Psalm 98:1-6. 1Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 2The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. 3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! 5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! 6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
The psalmist’s joy continues in Psalm 98. Pure exhilaration. Sing. Shout. Play an instrument if you know how. Make joyful noise. Why? Because of the victory that is his. The victory of his steadfast love and faithfulness, accomplished by his own right hand.
The psalmist is thinking about the Exodus and the marvelous things done in Egypt. The Christian is thinking about Calvary and the marvelous thing Jesus has done for us on the cross. There the love, the faithfulness, and the righteousness of God kissed. There the salvation of God was made known. There your heart was released from its captivity to sin and shame. You are free indeed, not only from earthly slave masters, but from every spiritual force that would seek your destruction.
So plan your praise if you must, or let it break forth spontaneously if it can. Whatever you do today make sure praise is part of it. Christ, the Right Arm of God, has rescued you and brought you into his life – to live is Christ. If that doesn’t produce a joyful noise in you I don’t know what will.
Prayer. Jesus, let praise be the background music of my life. Amen.
To Live is Christ 