Lesson 256 - Junior

Memory Verse

"The LORD reigneth;  let the earth rejoice;  let the multitude of isles be glad thereof" (Psalm 97:1).

Notes

A Joyful Salvation

Joyful hearts are a part of God's great salvation. When a person knows his sins are forgiven, there is a peace deep down inside of him; and a happiness shines forth upon his face with a glow that nothing in this world can give to him. A song will naturally come forth from that joyful heart.

God's salvation is not for a particular people or nation. The Psalmist sang, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands." All lands were to rejoice in the salvation that Jesus was giving freely to those who wanted to be saved.

The Apostle Peter wrote: "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" [ACT:10:34-35]).

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD." Sing praises to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Exalt the Christ who will redeem His people. Praise Him who is going to be willing to die for the sinner. Jesus had not yet come to live on earth at that time, but by faith the prophets could see Him as surely as though He had already come.

"Serve the LORD with gladness." The salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ brings that gladness. He takes upon Himself our sins and cares and sorrows, and makes us free. He takes the burdens, and leaves us with a song.

In the House of Worship

"Come before his presence with singing." When we come to the house of God to worship, we are coming into His presence. He sees modesty of dress, how we behave, and, above all, what we are thinking. If we come before Him with praises in our hearts, it will be easy to join with the rest of the congregation in singing the hymns which give glory to the Lord. The more we sing, the happier we are.

You may wonder if you can sing when there is sorrow in your heart. Of course, you can, if you are a Christian! Jesus will give you a song in the darkest night. He will sing in your heart when you feel that you are forsaken by everyone.

Sing when you are afraid, and your fears will vanish. Sing when you are burdened, and the burdens will lift. Sing songs about Jesus and His love. Sing songs of consecration, pledging your heart and life to Him. Sing about His coming again. Such songs sung from the heart are prayers that the Lord will hear and answer. You will feel that you have had communion with Him, and will know that He is right beside you to help you in every phase of your life on earth.

One God and Creator

"Know ye that the LORD he is God." There is no other. There is only one God, and He made the heavens, and the earth and everything in it. We have not made ourselves " we could not. He has made us all. We are His creation, and owe to Him every breath we draw. God who made and rules the universe is our Shepherd. We are the sheep of His pasture, lovingly cared for by Him. He leads us into green pastures. We are important to Him. He loves each one of us, and has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.

You know how helpless a little lamb is when a wolf snatches it from the flock. You know how easily a sheep can get lost and never find its way back to the fold. That is how helpless we are without the Lord. But we belong to the true Shepherd who cares for His sheep. He is willing to go over the roughest trails in the darkest night to find the sheep that is lost. Is not that cause enough to praise the Lord, and to worship Him to whom we belong? And more than that, the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for His sheep. What gratitude that should put into our hearts! We are His sheep! He died that we might live! He took our sins so that we might go free!

The least we can do to show our appreciation is to come to the house of God with true worship in our hearts. As we think of the great love of Jesus for us, we are able to "enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise."

Sacrifice of Praise

The Israelites came to worship God at the Tabernacle with offerings of lambs and goats and oxen. We do not need to offer animal sacrifices. Our sacrifices are praises given from the heart. The Apostle Paul wrote: "Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" [HEB:13:15]).

We are not to sing only in the church, but always there is to be a praise in our heart. Perhaps we have no voice to sing -" we may not even have a good speaking voice. Still we can make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Or sometimes we may not even make a sound, but there will be praises in the heart. We can breathe a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus.

Worshiping Together

The Apostle Paul knew how much good we could do for one another by speaking of the love of God. It is good for us to sing together; and it is encouraging to our faith to hear what God has done for others. Paul wrote that we are to provoke one another to love, "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another." We gain strength by meeting together and speaking of the things of God. And the Lord is listening, and delights in such conversation.

The Prophet Malachi wrote: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name" [MAL:3:16]). Even to think upon the name of the Lord brings a blessing to our hearts! The Lord said of those who think about Him and speak of His goodness and mercy: "They shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels" [MAL:3:17]). Jewels for the Lord! All we who rejoice in Him and sing His praises from the heart will be His when He comes to claim His own.

Forever

The goodness and mercy of God endure forever. He will never leave His own. Though we may sometimes doubt, or feel alone and afraid, that goodness and mercy will be right there; and when our faith awakens to it, we will again rejoice. "His truth endureth to all generations." Everyone, in any age, has the opportunity to serve Him if he will but take it.

Praises with Music

There was another day when the Psalmist was thinking about praising the Lord. He began by saying, "Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary." That means in His church. But could a church hold the glory of God? In the same sentence, the Psalmist added, "Praise him in the firmament of his power." All the earth cannot contain the praises of God. The whole heavens must be filled with His praises. Most men today do not praise the Lord, but the day will come when His praises will ring out through all the earth. In that day He will rule the nations. We will hear such singing as that of the Psalmist: "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.... Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding" [PS:47:1], [PS:47:6-7]).

In the Temple of Solomon were great choruses and orchestras to help sing praise unto God. The sacred song writers wanted to use every means they could to lift high the name of the Lord, so one wrote: "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance [or pipe]; praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals."

We are not familiar with some of the instruments of which he spoke, but let us consider a symphony orchestra such as we know about. Perhaps the first violins would start out with a theme of praise to God, and then the second violins would add a counter melody. The violas and cellos would hear those joyous strains, and would want to add their low voices of praise to God; and soon they would pick up the theme and sing their song in devotion. An octave lower the string basses would sound out their "Amens." The beautiful harmony among the strings would stir the wood winds, horns, and trumpets to share in the praises. Their voices would be louder and would carry farther. Next the trombones and basses would want to fill in with added praises. And flowing up and down, between the phrases, would be the crescendos and diminuendos of the harp. At the climax of praise we might hear the crash of the cymbal. The whole orchestra would build up to a grand finale of adoration unto the God who has made us, who is our King, whose mercy endureth forever.

And besides all the instruments of music, and all the choruses of song, let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord!

Questions

1. What makes a person truly happy?

2. Who is to sing praises unto God?

3. Where are we to praise Him?

4. How can we praise Him?

5. For what should we praise Him?

6. What is our sacrifice to God?

7. When should we praise Him?