Psalms 98 (KJV)
Verse 1: “O Sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvelous things: . . .”
Verse 4: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth . . . rejoice and sing praise.”
Devotion
Over the past six or seven years, our family has suffered the losses of three elderly parents and two beloved pet cats. The sense of loss was striking, even though we thought that we were prepared to see them all pass on. Yet, at the end, the book of Psalms was in the center of these transitions. I read my mother prayers from the Bible and especially from Psalms, and Janet’s father recited Psalm 23 from memory the last two delirious days of his life.
So, we were pleased to select the one passage in Psalms that reminded us not only of them but of their joy, optimism, faith, and love of music. My dad was a great tenor in choirs; my mother tried. Janet’s dad also was a tenor and sang with us in performances of Handel’s Messiah, and her mother was a fine pianist. All had music central to their faith, helping to create loving families in Christ.
Today, in the same way, our church music – choirs, handbells, adults, youth, and children – and our church family, bring the lasting joy of Christ to all. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, indeed!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love, the love of family, and the joyful noises that remind us of them all and sing your praises, with faith toward an optimistic future. Amen.
Janet and Jerry Kohlenberger