Singing Praises with Gladness

Singing Praises with Gladness  
IIChronicles 29:309b states, “And they sang praises with Gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.”
       The word gladness is derived from the Hebrew word simekah (8057) which means that they sang with exceeding joyfulness or glee.   The chief musician led the singing of praises to Jehovah with great joy in his heart.  Do you lead the praise music with a smile on your face and great thankfulness in your heart that produces a happy expression on your countenance?  
       The reason that the chief musician sang with exceeding joy was that he was remembering what God had done for Israel.  As he remembered, gladness poured over his soul and he expressed his thankfulness with great gladness.  The children of Israel expressed great glee because they were expressing real worship of Jehovah.
       The Hebrew word shachah (7812), which was translated worshipped here, means to prostrate oneself or to do obeisance or reverence to God.   We should never lose the wonder of God’s grace that has been extended to us.  We should remember often that we are saved by grace and grace alone.  Israel was looking forward to the blood of Christ being shed for our sins.
       Israel worshiped in types and shadows, but we worship in the joy of the perfect covenant.  Have you recently prostrated yourself before God in musical Worship?  When we truly prostrate our hearts before the blessed Trinity in musical worship we are not experiencing a “natural high”.   We are remembering Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and we are worshiping God in “spirit and in truth”.