A joyful heart

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. — Psalm 100:1

My granddaughter’s favorite tune is one of John Philip Sousa’s marches. Sousa, known as “The March King,” was a US composer in the late nineteenth century. Moriah isn’t in a marching band; she’s only 20 months old. She just loves the tune and can even hum a few notes. She associates it with joyful times. When our family gets together, we often hum this song along with claps and other boisterous noises, and the grandchildren dance or parade in circles to the beat. It always ends in dizzy children and lots of laughter.

Our joyful noise reminds me of the psalm that implores us to “worship the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 100:2). When King Solomon dedicated the temple, the Israelites celebrated with praises (2 Chron. 7:5-6). Psalm 100 may have been one of the songs they sang. The psalm declares: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. . . . Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (vv. 1-2, 4). Why? “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever”! (v. 5).

Our good God loves us! In grateful response, let’s “shout for joy to the Lord”! (Ps. 100:1). — Alyson Kieda

Dear Lord, give us thankful hearts to praise You, because You are good and all that You do is good. Your love endures forever!

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:1-10

Praise is the overflow of a joyful heart.

Bible in a Year: Job 38-40 and Acts 16:1-21