Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn -
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.
I stood outside today and watched the sun go down, casting the sky in vibrant shades I couldn't quite describe. A few wisps of cloud dotted the scene above, swaying ever so slightly in the evening breeze to the soft music of a day gone to rest. I thought of the beauty of the Lord, and the beauty of His creations and I felt an extraordinary sensation of longing. As indescribable and unfathomable as nature can be, how beyond comprehension must it be to stand before Him in His full glory, fully swaddled in the unbridled warmth of His peace? I thought of King David, who was raised from a poor shepherd's life to lead the people of the Lord, who proclaimed his desire to trade everything, everything, for just a day in His courts.
This Psalm calls upon us to join with the anthem of the Lord that is sung daily by His creation - there IS music in the rivers, in the mountains, and He calls US to be a beautiful harmony to that ongoing chorus. I find most powerful, however, the last few lines of this Psalm. We must sing not for the glory of a stagnant God, but in joy for the righteousness He brings to this incomplete world. We think often of judgment only as hellfire and brimstone, of the frightening day when we either rise as redeemed Sheep or condemned and cast aside as Goats. Yet His judgment is perfect and is deserving of praise - there is no fear for His grace has redeemed ALL people. In effect, the song of the rivers and mountains is a song of grand anticipation for the ultimate redemption He will bring, when all things are finally and completely reconciled to Him, the fulfillment of God's greatest covenant with His children.
Bogged down in the drudges of work, in the mind-numbing toil of studying, we can take but a moment to step outside and quiet our minds just enough to hear the song of creation. When stressed, discouraged, exhausted and alone, simply sing.
