Be Joyful!

Psalm 98

 ¹ 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.
² The LORD has made his salvation known
   and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
³ He has remembered his love
   and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
   the salvation of our God.
 ⁴ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
   burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵ make music to the LORD with the harp,
   with the harp and the sound of singing,
⁶ with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
   shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
 ⁷ Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
   the world, and all who live in it.
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands,
   let the mountains sing together for joy;
⁹ 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. 

What jubilation!  That is what I have thought of as I finished this psalm.  It seems that Israel saw the promises of God come to fruition and I can see David dancing around, playing.his harp, singing.  Do you get that happy with God that you want to dance, sing and play, basically just looking silly?  But it isn't silly.  It's okay to let yourself go.  It's okay to fall down on your knees, out of breath, because you were dancing around.  All because you were joyful in the Lord.  When I was teaching Carter on Sunday, we sang, If You're Happy and You Know It, he was jumping, dancing in circles, carefree and enjoying himself.  I love to see that joy.   Can you be that joyful?  It's hard, but today, when you are in your car or somewhere private, sing at the top of your lungs.  Dance around and thank God that you are able to freely praise him this way.